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9th Annual Conference Of The British HIV Association [BHIVA]24 – 26 April 2003, University of Manchester
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[AUTHOR(S):] LCG Frodsham, F Boag, S Barton and C Gilling-Smith
Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, London, UK
BHIVA Conf 2003 Apr 24-26;9:O4
INTRODUCTION: Demand for assisted conception in HIV discordant/concordant couples is rising due to increased HIV prevalence in the heterosexual population and the effect of antiretroviral drugs on life expectancy and vertical transmission risk. The reduction in vertical transmission from 20–30% to less than 1% has encouraged HIV-positive women to consider their reproductive potential. Further demand in women can be expected according to data from Africa, which demonstrate relative subfertility in HIV-positive women. To date, there has been no survey of the demand for assisted conception and/or risk reduction (sperm washing) in HIV-discordant or -concordant couples.
METHODS: A postal survey of the 294 genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinics registered in the AGUM directory (2000) elicited a 63% response rate (186/294).
RESULTS: 83/186 clinics had received requests for advice on conceiving. 15,211 HIV patients were registered in 81/83 of these clinics. 16% of the women and 4% of the men requested advice on fertility services and/or risk reduction. 49/83 units (59%) had referred men for sperm washing and 42/83 (51%) had referred women for assisted conception. 12/83 units (14%) had had success in obtaining HIV-prevention funds from local health authorities for sperm washing. 80/83 clinics (96%) felt that a UK database of units providing treatment would be of benefit in referring patients.
CONCLUSIONS: The demand for fertility services in HIV-infected couples is high. Our survey reinforces the need to improve current services to meet the demand and improve the information available to referring physicians.
PRESENTING AUTHOR: LCG Frodsham
030424
O4
Copyright © 2003 - British HIV Association (BHIVA) Reproduction of this abstract (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the BHIVA Organising Secretariat 1 Mountview Court, 310 Friern Barnet Lane, London N20 0LD