Question
Is it safe to conceive while taking Tribuss?
13 July 2012. Related: All topics, Pregnancy, Sero different couples, South Africa.
Hi. I’m currently on Tribuss. CD4 count is 347 viral load undectectable. My partner is negative!
Is it safe to be pregnant while taking such treatment?
And what are the chances of not infecting him? (My partner)
Answer
It’s great that you and your partner are looking to the future and planning to have a baby. Many sero-different couples have had and continue having health HIV negative babies.
Tribuss contains the drugs efavirenz, FTC and tenofovir. It is a combination that is now used by many HIV positive pregnant women worldwide. In the past, women wishing to conceive were advised not to use efavirenz, or to switch if they found out they were pregnant whilst taking it.
However, over the past few years, this advice has now changed. Here in the UK, the current UK guidelines for the management of HIV in pregnancy recommend that efavirenz can continue to be used by women considering pregnancy. They also recommend that efavirenz can be used by women diagnosed HIV positive during pregnancy.
There are many reports of women throughout the world who have continued taking efavirenz during pregnancy.
You also asked what the chances are of you not passing HIV onto your partner. Taking ARVs and having an undetectable viral load dramatically reduces the chances of you passing HIV to your partner.
However, in terms of conception, the options are much simpler and cheaper in a situation like yours. Do-it-yourself artificial insemination (self insemination) using a plastic syringe carries no risk to your partner. This is a very safe way to protect him from HIV. Please follow this link to our guide to HIV pregnancy and women’s health. It provides more detailed information on this method.
Good luck with your future plans.
Hi Bokang, HIV does not effect your ability to conceive. HIV medication will only improve this by helping to maintain your health.
Hi Is medication for HIV can stop you to conceive, I try Co conceive but no luck
Hi Joleen,
Your partner has been on ARVs for 10 months, therefore their viral load should be undetectable. If their viral load is undetectable, there’s no risk to you, please see here:
https://i-base.info/u-equals-u/
ARVs don’t have a negative impact on babies, they reduce the risk of transmission.
Hi im hiv positive and my partner is negative we are planning to have a. Baby is it. Safe using arvs im like about 10 months on the medication will it anyhow affect. My unborn
Hi Patience,
ARVs don’t affect a woman’s menstrual cycle. So it’s unlikely that the meds are stopping you from conceiving.
But please see this page from the guide to HIV pregnancy and women’s health.
Please ask your doctor about assisted reproduction. Ask about the possibility of referral to a fertility clinic with experience of HIV.
Good luck and best wishes.
Hello.
I’m 29 years old and have been on ARVs since when I was 25years old. The problem is I have been trying to conceive for the past few months and I’m afraid the treatment is stopping me from being able to conceive. Is the HIV treatment good for a woman’s fertility? I am taking Atroiza(tenofovir 300mg.Efavirenz 600mg.Emtricitabine 200mg). Any advice on how to take my medicine while trying to conceive will be appreciated. Thank you in advance.