Is It Safe To Have Babies When You Have HIV

Here's a taste of what TheBody.com has to offer on this topic:

Ask the Experts

hiv+safe to have a baby

Hello, Im HIV positive my boyfriend is not Hiv positive we want to try for a baby i been living with Hiv for 18 years my cd4 count is 595 my viral load is in the 100's and the medicines im taking im doing very well on im taking combivir and...

Response from Katherine Luzuriaga, M.D.

University of Massachusetts, Medical School

You have several good questions -- let's take them one at a time. If you are on antiretroviral medications and your viral load is < 1000, your chance of passing the virus to the baby is 1% or less. Viracept and combivir appear to be safe... Read more »

HIV- Mother, HIV+ baby?The Body: Rick Sowadsky M.S.P.H., C.D.S, Answers to Safe Sex Questions

Suppose that an HIV positive person impregnates an HIV negative woman. Is it possible for the baby... Read more »

Response from Rick Sowadsky, M.P.H. »

Are babies tested for HIV at birth?The Body: Rick Sowadsky M.S.P.H., C.D.S, Answers to Safe Sex Questions

Are babies tested for HIV at birth, if the mother wasn't tested during pregnancy? If so, are... Read more »

Response from Rick Sowadsky, M.P.H. »

Go to Ask the Experts »

Articles

This Month in HIV: Having a Baby When You're HIV Positive

This is Bonnie Goldman, editorial director of The Body. Welcome to This Month in HIV. Dramatic progress over the last 10 years in HIV medicine means that HIV-positive people can be expected to live an almost normal lifespan. With 75 percent of... Read more »

HIV Drugs and the Baby's Health

Some mothers and doctors have been reluctant to use or to prescribe anti-HIV drugs during pregnancy. This is out of concern for unknown effects to the baby. It is difficult to know if there are any long-term effects. Children first exposed to... Read more »

Having a Baby When Both Partners Are HIV Positive

If you and your partner are both HIV-positive and want to have a child, there are two important issues to consider: keeping both of you as safe as possible while trying to get pregnant and preventing the baby from becoming infected. Protecting... Read more »

HIV Treatment Guidelines: Pregnant Women and Babies

In May, DHHS released updated guidelines for treatment of pregnant women with HIV, intended both to benefit the woman's health and to prevent transmission of HIV to the baby. The new version did not include major changes, but added a new rating... Read more »

Connect With Others

Looking 4 help on having a baby with hiv+ hubby

Posted by Charlie, 5 Replies

Can anyone give me some addvice on having children with my hubby who is positive.
We are living in the UK and have looked into sperm washing but we would have to pay 5,000 for each treatment which we cant aford to do so the only other option for us... Read more »

HIv positive and having a baby

Posted by Anonymous, 5 Replies

I just found out I am pregnant. But I'm positive and really worried. Will I get sicker? will my baby die? Does anyone know about this? laura K.

Read more »

Having a baby when you are HIV+

Posted by Anonymous, 11 Replies

Having a Baby when you're HIV Positive

I'm a 23 year old HIV positive woman considering having a child
with my HIV negative husband. Anyone have any experience with
this. I know about the sperm washing techniques in Milan. I'm
just worried that... Read more »

how safe is safe sex?

Posted by Anonymous, 3 Replies

I've read on reliable websites (webmd.com) that using a latex condom is 98-100 effective in preventing HIV infection. Has anyone ever been infected with HIV after having protected sex where there was no break or slips in the condom? Is it safe to... Read more »

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