HIV positive people becoming parents

[OhHolyJesus]

This isn't exactly new, I think I heard about this a few years ago, anyone remember this science being announced?

I'm interested in the drugs that are taken by the woman in pregnancy and whether any research has been done in terms of the safety for the foetus. I understand that ARVs have been effective in prolonging the lives of those who are HIV positive but wonder about men who are HIV wanting biological children so their wives have to take medication throughout their pregnancy to ensure it isn't passed onto the baby. It does note the same for a woman who is HIV positive too.

https://newsable.asianetnews.com/health-life/how-this-fertility-clinic-is-helping-the-hiv-positive-couples-fulfill-their-dreams-to-achieve-hiv-free-baby-vpn-qwj7p1

Full text and note the disclaimer

•
Last year, Dr Richika Sahay Shukla, Director & Chief IVF specialist at India IVF Clinic, met a married couple faced with an uncommon fertility challenge they wanted to safely overcome.
The husband is HIV positive and the wife is not, so to achieve their dreams of having a family, Dr Richika counselled the couple to undergo in vitro fertilization (IVF) and a technique known as “sperm washing”g” to keep her and their baby free of infection. “Plenty of patients have conceived beautiful, healthy, HIV-negative babies by the use of technological advancements in ART ,” said Dr Richikaka.
The husband and wife she first met with last year ultimately delivered a healthy and HIV negative baby.
The number of HIV infected people is rising but what is more disturbing is that over 80% of these people are in their reproductive age group. If any of them want to attain parenthood, natural conception may not be their best bet. Thanks to India IVF Clinicic*_ which is helping such people to start their parenthood journey by using technical advancements in assisted reproduction technology,
Let’s be more informed on how assisted reproduction can help HIV infected people achieve parenthood through some commonly asked questions:
Can an HIV positive couple have children?
Yes, HIV-positive individuals can have children, thanks to assisted reproductive technologies. Seropositive persons now have access to medicines and treatment options, making it easier for them to consider starting a family.
What happens if the male partner is HIV infected?
Yes, you can utilise your sperm during IVF therapy if you're an HIV-positive male contemplating it. Advances in ART have made it possible. India IVF Clinic works with HIV-positive male intended parents on a regular basis. This method entails separating motile sperm from the rest of the ejaculation using sperm washing, followed by insemination of the washed sperm into the egg via IVF-ICSI.
What is the treatment procedure in case of female HIV patients?
Antiretroviral therapy followed by in-vitro fertilisation can enable female HIV positive patients who desire to become mothers to have a healthy pregnancy. To reduce the chance of infection transfer to the kid, the woman is kept on medication throughout her pregnancy.
IVF treatment is a godsend for HIV patients since it allows them to become parents.
Disclaimer: This is a featured content

[Forgotthebins]

This is quite an accessible resource on the topic: pedaids.org/our-expertise/prevention-of-mother-to-child-hiv-transmission/

[OhHolyJesus]

Thanks for that forgot.

[EmbarrassingAdmissions]

It's one of the reasons that affordable PrEP is going to be vital in some countries.

There are long-acting PrEP medications that can be injected at intervals - and they are substantial incremental changes to healthcare in this field. In order to realise the public health benefit that they represent they must be affordable to those that need them.

Current situation in UK as below:

The medication used for PrEP is a tablet which contains tenofovir and emtricitabine (drugs commonly used to treat HIV). It is sometimes called Truvada but most of the PrEP we use in the UK is generic PrEP.
…
Different PrEP delivery methods such as injectables and implants are being researched. As well as PrEP tablets, PrEP vaginal rings will be available soon.

www.tht.org.uk/hiv-and-sexual-health/prep-pre-exposure-prophylaxis

[GingerScallop]

I come from a country decimated by hiv 20 years ago. Things are a million times better. It's not unusual to have babies while hiv positive. You continue on ARVs for mum's sake and at birth you are given a specific drug/dose to prevent mother to child transmission (mtct). Info is widely available but one place to start is UNICEF website looking at mtct

[OhHolyJesus]

Thanks for this, off to look at what was shared. Great to hear so much progress is being made! I need to read a bit more on this so keep the links coming.

[Siablue]

HIV testing is standard in pregnancy now as they can give you medication which can prevent transmission from mum to baby. Most outcomes are very good.

[NiceGerbil]

In some countries the infection rate in women is massive.

It was a global pandemic and from s global perspective it's a massive issue still.

Anything that can be found to help is good news as far as I'm concerned.

[NiceGerbil]

The piece reads as an advert for an IVF clinic by the way.

How did you come across it? Just interested!

[CarlottaValdez]

It is an advert, that’s what featured content means.

[NiceGerbil]

Ah ok thank you

[HIVpos]

Ugh that's clearly a promotional ad as there's no mention on the obvious (TasP - treatment as protection) and considering it's a current article also using outdated terminology which is against UNAIDS guidelines (HIV infected) www.unaids.org/sites/default/files/media_asset/2015_terminology_guidelines_en.pdf.

Unless for example the man is unable to take effective meds for any reason/woman unable to take PrEP I would disregard it entirely. Always look at more reliable and unbiased sources of information

Here are a few quick thoughts and links:

"I'm interested in the drugs that are taken by the woman in pregnancy and whether any research has been done in terms of the safety for the foetus."

Yes they are checked for safety. Often a womans' medication is changed to something more appropriate if she is trying to get pregnant (always important to tell the consultant this). Here's an article where DTG was thought to cause an issue at conception and was stopped use in pregnancy until further research was done. Later found to be safe. www.aidsmap.com/news/jul-2019/dolutegravir-safety-pregnancy-risk-lower-first-reported

"I understand that ARVs have been effective in prolonging the lives of those who are HIV positive but wonder about men who are HIV wanting biological children so their wives have to take medication throughout their pregnancy to ensure it isn't passed onto the baby. It does note the same for a woman who is HIV positive too."

Yes, near-normal lives now (some think that with the extra testing we get it might be longer due to anything untoward being picked up sooner) It's been endorsed by all World Health Organisations (has been for 5 years and strongly suspected for many years prior) that when on effective treatment with an undetectable viral load the risk of transmission between an HIV+ and HIV- partner is zero - known as U=U, Undetectable = Untransmittable. source i-base.info/guides/testing/uu-undetectable-untransmittable.
If for any reason the man is unable to maintain an undetectable VL the woman can take PrEP which is very effective (I think 99%?) in preventing transmission (see link above to THT).

i-base.info has some great info and also a Q&A section where you can most likely find out more.