Question:

Hello, my boyfriend is HIV positive and has been for 5 years. He was previously in a relationship with someone who is also HIV positive and a child was procreated, who is HIV negative. I have a few questions....

1. If he were to finger me, would I be exposed to HIV?
2. We have heard of sperm washing, would this be a method to have a child, being that I'm HIV negative?
3. We have not had intercourse, what kind of protection would you recommend?
Thanks!

Answer provided by:

Peter Shalit, M.D.
Internal Medicine

Hi--
(1) You would not be exposed to HIV if your boyfriend were to finger you.
(2) Sperm washing, is now being done in some fertility clinics in the US, as a method for you to have your boyfriend's child while minimizing the changes that you and your child would become infected with HIV. After the sperm are washed, they are used to fertilize one of your eggs in the lab, outside your body ("in vitro fertilization"). Then the fertilized egg is placed in your womb. This further reduces your risk of exposure to HIV. So far the results are promising. A number of healthy, HIV-negative babies have been conceived this way, with no cases of transmitting HIV.
(3) When you have intercourse, your boyfriend should wear a condom, and if possible he should avoid ejaculation (coming) while his penis is inside you, to reduce your risk of becoming infected with HIV. This provides good protection for you, though there are no guarantees.

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