There are several options for avoiding HIV transmission when trying to conceive. In the event that you are an HIV-positive male and your partner is an HIV-negative woman who wants to learn more about becoming pregnant, there are a variety of sites that might help.
Check for STIs and Analyze Semen
It’s a good idea to take care of any STIs or STDs you have before trying to become pregnant in order to prevent HIV transmission. Some sexually transmitted infections (STIs) may raise the risk of HIV infection. In contrast, even if the HIV-infected partner’s viral load is undetectable, the HIV-negative spouse will still be protected.
Semen analysis is also recommended by the US Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) for guys living with HIV. HIV-infected women are more likely than HIV-infected men to have problems becoming pregnant. Determine whether or if his sperm is viable before deciding how to become pregnant.
To conduct a simple fertility test, all that is required is a sample of semen (the capacity to conceive). It may be difficult to locate a clinic that would do a semen test on a man with HIV. This kind of analysis is often not covered by insurance in the United States.
Viral Suppression of Partner Living with HIV
Maintaining an undetectable viral load while taking HIV treatment is the greatest thing a man can do for the health of his HIV-infected partner’s immune system (not enough HIV in his bloodstream for a test to assess).
There is a 0% chance that an HIV-infected spouse would transmit the virus to a partner who is not infected, according to recent research of heterosexual and gay couples.
Sex without Condoms
Before trying to conceive, it is desirable if the HIV-positive spouse has a viral load that cannot be detected. Only engage in unprotected sex with a woman who is ovulating if the man’s viral load is unknown or cannot be determined (when she is most likely to get pregnant; this is often called “timed intercourse”). After two weeks of not having menstruation, an egg is released by the ovary of a woman. During the “fertile window,” which is one to two days before and one day after ovulation, insemination is more likely to succeed.
• Fertility Awareness Center
• Pinpointing Fertile Days
Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP)
It is now possible for women who are HIV-negative to get pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP, with the use of Truvada (tenofovir disoproxil fumarate/emtricitabine). However, cisgender females are not eligible for Descovy (tenofovir alafenamide/emtricitabine), which has been licenced for use as a prophylactic measure. Taking antiretroviral treatment before she is exposed to HIV is known as PrEP if her partner’s viral load is undetectable. As a consequence, PrEP gives you more control over your HIV prevention. Pregnancy should not be the only time it is taken.
Preventative treatment for HIV-negative spouses in serodiscordant couples who wish to have a family should be considered as one of several options. While some medical professionals are familiar with and comfortable prescribing PrEP, this isn’t always the case. In certain cases, your doctor or other healthcare provider may be able to prescribe you PrEP.
We don’t yet know how successful PrEP is for HIV-infected partners in preventing their partners from HIV infection, even if they have an undetectable viral load and are taking HIV medications. When HIV-positive partners are already virally suppressed and condomless sexual activity is confined to the woman’s reproductive years, studies show that PrEP may not give any further protection.
Early pregnancies seem to be safe for HIV-negative women using Truvada as a preventative measure. According to results from the Partners PrEP research, which included heterosexual serodifferent couples in Africa, kids born to mothers who were taking Truvada did not have worse birth outcomes or smaller newborns. For many years, pregnant HIV-positive women have taken an antiretroviral medication as a prophylactic strategy.
Sperm Washing
Selected sperm are referred to as “semen” after they have been washed to remove any remaining seminal fluid. A lower level of risk of HIV transmission exists when sperm have been separated from the seminal fluid and no longer contain any.
Assisted Reproduction
Fertilizing an egg by medical intervention is possible in this scenario. To prevent the transmission of HIV through their sexual partners, couples who are using donor sperm, or those with fertility issues may benefit from assisted reproduction, or “assisted reproductive technology,” which is also known as IVF. For HIV-positive people, only a few clinics and health insurance plans cover assisted reproduction. Washing the sperm may be used in a number of ways to help in assisted reproduction.
• Intra-uterine insemination (IUI): This procedure involves drawing up the male reproductive fluids (sperm) and placing them in a little tube, which is then placed into the uterus via the cervix (womb). The sperm is transferred to the uterus, where it may be fertilised by the egg.
• In-vitro fertilization (IVF): To aid in the preparation of eggs, the lady takes fertility medications (also called ripening her eggs). Eggs are taken from the ovary and placed in a dish with sperm when they are mature. When an egg (embryo) has been fertilised, it is returned to the woman’s uterus.
• Intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI): In this procedure, sperm is injected directly into an egg using a needle that is very thin. The fertilised egg is returned to the uterus of the woman when it happens. Sperm that do not swim properly or are abnormally shaped are employed in this procedure.
Donor Sperm
Donor sperm might come from a sperm bank or from a friend or family member you trust. To ensure the safety and viability of sperm donated to sperm banks, the donors are often anonymous and checked for fertility and illnesses. Your partner will not be at risk of contracting HIV as a result of this relationship arrangement.
An assisted reproduction procedure known as intra-vaginal insemination often makes use of donor sperm (IVI). A medical professional inserts sperm deep within the vagina during this treatment. Similar to home insemination, this procedure is performed in a clinic. You may utilise donor sperm in any assisted reproductive procedure that you see here.
Home Insemination
The sperm of an anonymous donor or one you know may be used as an alternative. For home insemination, certain states do not allow the use of sperm from a sperm bank. Get in touch with the sperm bank in your state to find out more about home insemination using donor-donor sperm.
To ensure the safety of your sperm donor, ask him to ejaculate (cum) into a sterilised cup or condom before you begin using his sperm. If you must, use a condom devoid of spermicide. You take a needle-free syringe and insert it into the urethra to suck up the semen. Inject the semen into the uterus with the syringe.
Personal experience and at least one study indicate that a woman should lie down for 20 minutes after receiving a semen injection in order to boost her chances of becoming pregnant. Home insemination is more effective when performed during a woman’s fertile or ovulating period. Because they are often used to provide medicine to newborns, non-needle syringes are readily accessible at the majority of pharmacies. Your HIV provider may also be able to give you with some.
Adoption
Orphaned kids might be placed in a permanent home as an alternative to having biological children. It is possible for adoptions to take place both domestically and internationally. Although many people living with HIV have adopted children, there are certain organisations and countries that have anti-adoption attitudes.
Finding a Supportive Provider
If you’re planning a family and know you have HIV, you owe it to yourself and your unborn kid to fight for what’s right. Finding a doctor who understands and supports your desire to have a family is a crucial first step! There are many considerations that arise throughout pregnancy and childbirth, such as whether technique of conception is best for you and whether or not your spouse should get HIV treatment. To help you cope with the stigma and anxiety of being HIV-positive while pregnant, they may also be able to advise you on whether to notify others (such as the doctor who will be caring for your child or other close family members and friends).
In the end, the decision to have a family is entirely up to you. You have the right to be treated with dignity and respect, and you have the right to be provided with all the information you need in order to make an informed decision and plan ahead.
People also search
Can a HIV positive man get a woman pregnant?
Men with HIV may safely father children if they have access to the latest information, resources, and HIV drugs. HIV cannot be transmitted from a man to a woman’s unborn child in the womb. If you’re thinking about having a kid, you should begin making preparations as soon as possible.
Can two HIV-positive parents have an HIV-negative child?
They can, of course. Pregnant women with HIV are at risk of transmitting the virus, however medical care of the mother and her baby may reduce the risk of transmission to a significant degree.
What can I do if my partner is HIV positive?
- Condoms are recommended. Use of condoms for anal or vaginal intercourse must be done correctly each time.
- Take your medicine as prescribed. A doctor may prescribe an antiretroviral drug to keep you safe from contracting HIV.
- Keep an eye on your partner’s medication.
