Please Note: Due to volume considerations, not all questions can be answered. Questions most likely to be answered will be those of general interest to a broad group of visitors to this forum. Questions pertaining to a specific case; requests for diagnosis, medical advice, or second opinion; or requests for opinions about untested alternative therapies will generally not be answered.
|
|
 |  |
 |
 |
Dying for a baby
Aug 28, 2006
I am newly positive cd4 758 vl undetectable- never been on meds. My question is if I decide to have baby, will i have to start treatment even if i remain undetectable? and if treatment is needed while pregnant will I have to continue meds after having baby?
I want to have child but if my body has control so far in this HIV battle I do not want to jeopardize my health. Please help
Thanks
|
 |
|
 |
|
Response from Dr. Luzuriaga
Antiretroviral treatment during pregnancy is generally recommended for 2 reasons: 1) to optimize maternal health; and 2) to prevent transmission of the virus to the baby. While it sounds as if you do not necessarily need treatment at this point to optimize your health, treatment would be important to prevent the risk of transmitting the virus to your baby. Even with undetectable viral load, there is a small risk of transmitting the virus to your baby; treatment would reduce this risk to under 1%. If you go on antiretrovirals to prevent HIV transmission to your baby, you would not need to continue therapy after delivery.
There's lots of good information on antiretrovirals during poregnancy on this web site. The "Guidelines for the Use of Antiretrovirals During Pregnancy" (available under the "Treatment Guidelines" section) provides a comprehensive discussion of mother-to-child transmission and the use of antiretrovirals during pregnancy. I would urge you to look this information over and discuss your options with your care provider as you plan for your pregnancy.
|
|
|
 Please remember that this forum is designed for educational purposes only, and experts are not engaged through this
forum in rendering legal or medical advice or professional services. Experts appearing on this page are independent and are solely responsible
for editing and fact-checking their material. Neither The Body nor any sponsor is the publisher or speaker of posted visitors' questions or the experts' material.
Questions and messages posted to this forum are not statements of advice, opinion, or information of The Body, Body Health Resources Corporation or any sponsor of this
forum. While neither The Body nor Body Health Resources Corporation regularly reviews posted content, we reserve the right to delete, move, or
edit postings if we deem it appropriate under the circumstances. Visitors submitting questions remain solely responsible for the content of their
messages.
Information provided by experts is general only and should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or a disease, or relied upon as
legal or other professional advice. This information is not a substitute for professional advice or care. If you have or suspect you may have a
health or legal problem, you should consult your own health care provider or your attorney.
Copyright notice.
|
|
|
|
