In recent years were almost all HIV infections in U.S. children result from mother to child transmission. The epidemic, however, slowly coming under control. In 2005 there were only about 141 children born with HIV, which is less than one-tenth the number of infected babies born each year in peak years in the mid-1990s. Much of this reduction has been attributed to the early identification of HIV infection in pregnant women, so that antiretroviral therapy and other interventions during pregnancy, labour and delivery can be invoked to prevent the transmission to infants. This type of therapy, combined with the treatment of new-born babies, can reduce the risk of perinatal HIV transmission from about 25% less than 2%.
Unfortunately for treatment to be as helpful as possible, that women must be diagnosed with HIV as early as possible during pregnancy. Therefore, the current CDC guidelines recommend testing for all women during the first Prenatal visit, and then again in the third quarter. While women do not get tested during pregnancy can, however, take advantage of testing at the time of delivery. Treatment at the time of delivery has been shown to reduce HIV transmission to the infant by more than half.
A little more than a quarter of the newly-diagnosed HIV infections in the United States occurred in women in 2005, and many of these infections were the result of sexual relations with HIV positive men. In addition, 80% of the estimated 120,000 to 160,000 HIV positive women in the United States is of childbearing age, and as many as a quarter of these women might not be aware of their status. These women, who don't know their HIV status, can be the highest risk of passing the virus to their children, if they choose to become pregnant, especially if they do not receive HIV testing and treatment as part of timely prenatal care.
If you become pregnant, it is very important for you to be tested for HIV as early as possible during your prenatal care. Even if your risk of exposure is minimal, it is better to be safe than sorry. Knowing your HIV status will help with your peace of mind. More important, but if you are positive, the sooner you start treatment, the safer you can keep your future child.
In these days of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has been an HIV disease, as people are living with for decades. Many HIV positive men and women are interested in having children of their own. Although the risks of transmission during pregnancy is not removed, new treatments and technologies have made it much safer for HIV + couples to have children.
If you are part of a pair, where one or both of them are HIV-positive, and you are considering having children, it is important to see your doctor for counseling before attempting to become pregnant. Your doctor can help you to decide whether to try a natural pregnancy is right for you. And if it is, they can help you reduce the risk of transmission and/you, your partner or your future child-free. Other opportunities to form may include the use of assisted reproductive technologies or adoption, and after counseling, some couples may decide to remain child-free.
If either you or your partner is HIV-positive, it should not be on your dreams of having a family. It may, however, make the decision to treat more difficult. Therefore, it is important to begin the process with as much information as possible. If your doctor is uncomfortable debating reproductive options with you, find another who will give you the help you need. It is better to wait and do it right than to risk your future child's health more than absolutely necessary.
Sources:
HIV/AIDS basic statistics from the Centers for disease control.
Fact sheet perinatal HIV from the Centers for disease control.
Barreiro p. et al. (2006) "reproductive options for HIV-serodiscordant couple." AIDS rev 8 (3): 158-70.
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