Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2009. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
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New Vision (Kampala) - November 15, 2009
Dear Doctor,
Is it safe for a woman who is HIV-positive to get pregnant? Don't you think we should advise our sisters with the virus to avoid trying to have children considering the risks they pose to themselves, their spouses and the children they produce?
Florence.
Dear Florence,
People living with HIV (PLHIV) like all other people are entitled to "The right to marry and to found a family, if they so desire. A PLHIV has a right to a healthy sex life.
They should be supported to stay healthy, avoid new sexually transmitted infections and delay HIV disease progression. We should not deny them help.
If a woman has disclosed her HIV status to her sexual partner and they have agreed to have a baby having obtained expert advice from their doctor, I see nothing wrong with their decision.
If a woman who is HIV-positive is on treatment with ARVs and her CD4 count is high and has a maximally suppressed viral load, she can become pregnant without much risk to herself, the baby and even her sexual partner. She will have taken what is known as an informed decision.
Write to Ask The Doctor, P.O. Box 9815, Or health@newvision.co.ug
091115
NV091121
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