Is It Possible for People Living with HIV To Have Children Without HIV?

16 Sep Is It Possible for People Living with HIV To Have Children Without HIV?

It turns out that today’s post happens to be one of the biggest questions people living with HIV ask when they consider conception and parenthood. The answer however, to this question, might come as a surprise to you.

HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) as we all know it, is a life-threatening disease which can be fatal if left untreated. HIV is a virus which, when contracted, can weaken the immune system leaving a person vulnerable to illness and infections or, in a worst-case scenario, a syndrome called AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome). 

So back to our question today. In case you were wondering, the answer is YES.

Allow us to explain.

What makes HIV/AIDS as a disease very dangerous is a phenomenon known as viral load. Viral load is the amount of viral copies in a sample of blood. The higher the viral load, the higher the risk of transmitting the virus and the risk of progressing into full blown AIDS. Consequently, the lower the viral load, the lower the risk of transmitting the virus and the better the chance of having an improved overall state of health.

For those who take their HIV treatment as prescribed by the Doctor, they can expect a low and even up to an undetectable viral load. They will also live long and healthy lives regardless of having the condition. 

While it is common for women and couples living with HIV to have major concerns about pregnancy, childbirth or breastfeeding, HIV, when undetectable in blood, cannot spread through sex. It is safe to become pregnant and even breastfeed without fear of passing the virus on the baby. It is also imperative to note that pregnancy can be safe for a mother with HIV and her baby when HIV transmission reduction strategies are in place.

For women with HIV, here are some ways to reduce the risk of transmission:

1. Taking antiretroviral (ART) medications before conception to reduce your viral load (the amount of virus in the fluids in your body). Like we earlier mentioned, the lower the viral load, the lower the risk of transmission to your unborn baby.

2. Starting antiretroviral HIV treatment as soon as diagnosed will help to optimize your overall health. This treatment known as PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis) should be taken for a 2 to 6-week period after birth and this significantly decreases the chances of your baby getting HIV. Babies should also be regularly tested for HIV, usually until they are 18 months old. Testing involves a combination of antibody and PCR (polymerase chain reaction) tests.

In addition, it is important that babies exposed to these medications continue to be monitored. They are generally considered HIV negative by 3 months of age if they are not breastfed.

Being on effective treatment and having a low or undetectable viral load improves your immune system and health throughout pregnancy. While HIV/AIDS might have been a death sentence 20-30 years ago, it is no longer a death sentence today. People living with this condition can go ahead and live very active and productive lives while taking steps to manage it for the overall benefit of themselves and their loved ones.

Reference:

https://www.aidsmap.com/about-hiv/having-baby-when-you-are-living-

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