Can HIV-positive couples become pregnant?
Yes. However, some methods are potentially riskier (and more costly) than others. Here’s a look at options available to positive or serodiscordant (one partner has HIV, while the other doesn’t) couples: Unprotected vaginal intercourse. If the man’s positive and the woman’s negative—or vice versa—there’s a risk of HIV transmission if unprotected vaginal intercourse is the conception method of choice. But if the positive partner is on antiretroviral treatment and his or her viral load is undetectable, the risk of transmission decreases. Other ways to reduce the chance of transmission include pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), a short course of HIV drugs given to the negative partner before intercourse to help prevent infection. There’s also timed intercourse—engaging in unprotected vaginal sex only during times of peak ovulation. When both partners are positive, there is a risk of reinfection (also called “superinfection”). However, very little is known about this risk. And when both partn
