Question
Do HIV-positive pregnant women have to have an abortion?
18 November 2009. Related: Access to treatment, All topics, CD4 and viral load, Pregnancy, Starting treatment.
I am working as nurse in Pakistan.
I tested positive and later got married to an HIV-positive man and now I am pregnant.
Doctors said that I need to check my viral load and CD4 to continue my pregnancy. They said that if they are bad I need abortion.
I am confused please give suggestions.
Answer
Hi
The information you have been given is NOT true.
HIV-positive women can have children and using HIV drugs during pregnancy dramatically reduces the chance that the baby will have HIV. This risk becomes less than 1% when the pregnancy is managed wel and the mother has an undetectable viral load during labour.
Your CD4 count and viral load should be checked regularly for your own health.
It is important that you have these checked again now, so that you and your doctor cna decide when to start ARV treatment.
Please look through the information in this HIV and pregnancy guide.
You may need to find a hospital that has more experience with HIV-positive patients. Also, I do not know about which drugs are available in Pakistan, but I am happy to answer any questions you have either online or privately.
If you and your partner want to have children this should be a very happy and exciting time for you. You need your doctor to be supportive or to try to find an alternative doctor.
Hi Mejumma, congratulations on your pregnancy. Are you taking ARVs? If you are this is the best way to keep both you and baby safe. Many women all over the world with HIV give birth to healthy HIV negative babies. This is a link to our pregnancy Q&A which can help answer any further questions you may have: https://i-base.info/qa/category/pregnancy
Hi,I’m hiv positive and just found out that I am pregnant I want to keep the baby but I am afraid of transmitting the virus to my unborn child please help
Hi Gloria, why are you wanting to have an abortion?
Am i want to abort it
Hi Nomfezeko, thanks you for getting in touch – and it does sound like you need support and other people to talk to.
Please tell you HIV clinic about your situation. All HIV clinics are very experienced in HIV positive women having children. It sounds like you might be in shock about learning you are HIV positive. The clinic should be able to help with this too.
Usually, within a few months the shock of HIV disappears and people go back to normal life again, sometimes rarely thinking of HIV. This inlucdes still have babies that do not have HIV. The HIV meds also protect the baby during pregnancy, at birth and afterwards.
The decision about the pregnancy doesn’t need to be affected by HIV, but this is your choice, once you have support and good information.
I need to abort. i just found out that i’m HIV Positive. i’m sure i dont want this pregnancy so i thought of terminating the pregnancy before starting treatment. Am scared and would like advice.
Hi Noxolo,
No one has the right to tell you what you should do with your body, and with the child that you’re carrying. Only you have the right to do this as its you’re body, and its you who is carrying the baby.
If you don’t want to have an abortion, then you don’t have to. Being positive shouldn’t be an issue. You will though need to be on ARVs. Its the ARVs that will help reduce the risk of transmission to your baby as the following guide explains:
http://i-base.info/guides/pregnancy
Hi I’m HIV positive and I’m pregnant, the father of child said I must abort but I don;t want to abort please help me .
Hi Candies,
i-base advocates can’t tell you if you should have an abortion or not. This is a very personal choice. However, it may help to know that many women who are positive have kids, and kids who are negative.
I need to abort quick .i just found out am pregnant and am HIV positive ..am sure I don’t want this pregnancy so I thought of terminating the pregnancy before starting treatment.Am scared and would like Advice