If one or both partners has/have an HIV infection, it is necessary to consider how a pregnancy can be best achieved so as to minimize the risk of transmitting HIV. Fertilization can take place in various ways:
- The natural way. This is possible when an HIV-positive man or woman has had an immeasurably low number of HIV particles for at least six months, and also adheres to their therapy and has no other STDs. The chance that you will still transmit the virus is very small, but not zero. Therefore, always consult your HIV specialist when considering this.
- Via self-insemination. In case of an HIV-infected woman and an HIV-negative man.
- Artificial insemination via IVF (in vitro fertilization) or IUI (intrauterine insemination). If the man is HIV infected and the woman is HIV negative, the sperm can be 'washed'. In this process, the sperm cells are separated from the rest of the semen. This is because there is no HIV in the sperm cells themselves. Fertilization can then take place via:
- IVF, also known as in vitro fertilization. The sperm cell is introduced into the egg cell, outside of the woman's body. The fertilized egg is then put back into the woman's body.
- IUI, the selected sperm cells are placed into the woman's womb during ovulation.
If one or both partners has/have an HIV infection, it is necessary to consider how a pregnancy can be best achieved so as to minimize the risk of transmitting HIV. Fertilization can take place in various ways:
- The natural way. This is possible when an HIV-positive man or woman has had an immeasurably low number of HIV particles for at least six months, and also adheres to their therapy and has no other STDs. The chance that you will still transmit the virus is very small, but not zero. Therefore, always consult your HIV specialist when considering this.
- Via self-insemination. In case of an HIV-infected woman and an HIV-negative man.
- Artificial insemination via IVF (in vitro fertilization) or IUI (intrauterine insemination). If the man is HIV infected and the woman is HIV negative, the sperm can be 'washed'. In this process, the sperm cells are separated from the rest of the semen. This is because there is no HIV in the sperm cells themselves. Fertilization can then take place via:
- IVF, also known as in vitro fertilization. The sperm cell is introduced into the egg cell, outside of the woman's body. The fertilized egg is then put back into the woman's body.
- IUI, the selected sperm cells are placed into the woman's womb during ovulation.
