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
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
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Hi Khomeini,
Congratulations on the news that you’re going to have a baby. But is there a reason why you think you might be HIV positive? Can you ask the doctor for an HIV test, or is that not possible?
Please let us know.
Hello m Khomeini
Hello I am 4 months pregnancy nd i don’t know my status what if I m HIV positive so my baby were affected with HIV
Hi Precious,
First, many congratulations on the news that you’re going to have a baby.
I’m sorry to hear about your diagnosis, but it’s great that you started HIV treatment (ART) straight away. And you’re already planning how to breastfeed too. So it sounds like you’re doing all you can to protect your baby.
The aim of ART is to get your viral load to undetectable by the time you give birth. Having an undetectable viral load of less than 50 copies can reduce the risk of HIV to your baby to close to zero.
Please see this guide to HIV pregnancy and women’s health.
If you live in South Africa you can contact the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) at this contact link. They can offer local support.
Hi I’m 20weeks pregnant and i was told at 12weeks that I’m HIV+.started my treatment then my problem is dat i don’t know my partner status and we having unprotected sex and I’m planning to breastfeed could my baby be at risk of being infected
Hi Lina,
With regards to your partner, if you’ve been having sex without a condom with a detectable viral load unless they are already positive they are at risk. You’re going to need to talk to your partner and find out that his status is. He’s going to need to test.
How long have you been on treatment for? And when is your baby due?
I am hiv + I dont know my partners status. Am the only one who’s taking meds and we are having unprotected sex. What worries me is that my viral load is above 1000. Can my baby be infected too
Hi Matshidiso,
Are you HIV positive? This website resource is for people who are living with HIV. We give information on HIV treatment (ART).
If you are HIV positive, you need to be taking ART so that your HIV viral load result is undetectable before you give birth. Please let us know.
hi am Matshidiso
Am 22 weeks pregnant,i want to know whether is it safe for me to have an unprotected sex with someone how’s not the father
Hi Meme,
If a baby is going to contract HIV it’s from their mothers.Therefore it doesn’t matter if your partner is negative or positive.
Unless your viral load is undetectable you’re partner is going to need to test for HIV as he could have been at risk.
Hi am meme
Am 15 weeks pregnant and hiv+ I don’t know my partners status and we having unprotected sex,could these harm my unborn baby