Q and A

Question

Is unprotected sex safe in pregnancy?

3 July 2013. Related: All topics, Pregnancy.

Hi, I wanted to know is it safe to have unprotected sex when your pregnant while taking ARVs?

Answer

Answer: Rebecca McDowall

Hi,

Can you give me a bit more information to help me answer your question?

Is the person/people that you are considering having unprotected sex with also HIV+? If they are, are they also on treatment?

Being on treatment with an undetectable viral load will mean that the chance of passing HIV to your baby is very very small.

The main considerations around unprotected sex are

  1. HIV reinfection (superinfection) if your partner(s) are HIV positive. This is really only a concern if your partner(s) have any drug resistance that could affect your treatment, and a detectable viral load. You can read about reinfection here.
  2. Transmission to your partner(s) if they are HIV negative. Again, if you have an undetectable viral load this is much less likely. You can read about transmission and viral load here.
  3. Other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). These can pose a risk to the health of your baby, and may increase the risk of transmitting HIV. It is therefore important that you and your partners are free from any STIs before having unprotected sex.

I hope this is helpful- please let me know if you have any questions or I can help further.

72 comments

  1. Lisa Thorley •

    Hi Avy,

    Babies contract HIV from their mothers, not their fathers. Therefore, even if your boyfriend hasn’t tested or he isn’t on ARV’s this won’t impact your baby if you’re having unprotected sex. He should though test.

  2. Avy •

    Hi I just discovered that I’m HIV positive with a cd4 count of 187…my problem is dat my boyfriend is not taking any arvs since he hasn’t tested ND we are having unprotected sex can this affect the baby?? Remember I’m on treatment

  3. Lisa Thorley •

    Hi Nomnqusho,

    Its very important to take ARVs when pregnant, this is because they reduce the risk of transmission to babies. Please see the following:

    http://i-base.info/guides/pregnancy

    Smoking isn’t recommended when pregnant as it can cause damage to babies.

  4. nomnqusho •

    what are the effects of Smoking while pregnant and on arvz?

  5. Lisa Thorley •

    Hi Nomnqusho,

    Guidelines about drinking during pregnancy vary from country to country. You being positive however won’t be affected by drinking beers.

  6. nomnqusho •

    hi

    i had few beers weekend how does that affect my baby cz m hiv positive

  7. Lisa Thorley •

    Hi Nomnqusho,

    You having sex without a condom with your boyfriend won’t have any impact on your babies health. This is because its mothers who have the potential to infect their babies, not their fathers. Due to you being on ARVs this will be drastically reduced.

    For more info about HIV and pregnancy, please see here:

    http://i-base.info/guides/pregnancy

  8. nomnqusho •

    hi

    am hiv positive n my boyfriend is also positive. am on tribuss and 5 months pregnant. My boyfriend is not on treatment. We have unprotected sex sometimes now i want to know will my baby be infected cz i sleep with his father without protection who is also positive…. Bare in mind i do take treatment every night jus bf is not on treatment

  9. Lisa Thorley •

    Hi Risuna,

    Because you’re pregnant its very important that you start taking ARVs. This is because its the ARVs that will help reduce the risk of HIV to your baby. Please see here for more info:

    http://i-base.info/guides/pregnancy

  10. risuna •

    Hi,i am 3 months pregnant and we both positive we having unprotected sex n we not on ARV’s is my baby safe?

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