One of the things that can be difficult for many people who find out they are HIV positive is the
belief that this means they can’t have children. But this is no longer true. There are a number of things that people can do to reduce the risks of a child becoming HIV
positive. One is for a woman to use certain
kinds of HIV treatment during her pregnancy to
reduce the risk of the unborn baby becoming
infected in the womb. Another thing is for the birth to be by caesarean section, rather than a
natural birth. And a third option is to avoid breast-feeding. Many HIV positive women have
had completely healthy babies by taking these steps.
Mary
I thought I’d never have another child once I found out I was HIV positive. But I’ve had two children since then, both healthy girls.
Patrick
I heard about sperm-washing from a friend. I thought it was a joke at first, but then asked at the clinic.
Gary
I don’t especially want children right now, and I’m not in a relationship. One thing that saddened me when I was diagnosed was the thought I would never be able
to have kids. Just knowing it’s still a possibility makes a big difference.
Some HIV positive men who want a child with an HIV negative partner choose sperm-washing to avoid the risk of their partner becoming infected. For a baby to become HIV positive, the man’s HIV cannot go straight to an unborn child, it would have to involve the woman becoming infected and then passing it on to the baby. Sperm-washing is available in only a few specialist clinics. It involves separating the man’s sperm from the semen, which also separates the HIV. Then the woman has artificial insemination, with the hope of conceiving a baby.
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