POZ Community Forums
Main Forums => Someone I Care About Has HIV => Topic started by: snoofle on January 08, 2009, 01:07:19 am
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I'm hoping to eventually get married to my positive boyfriend, but i've been wondering about those in discordant marriages or long term relationships, how did you go about pregnancy? I've read about the whole sperm washing thing and then doing IVF, but is there anything less invasive and expensive out there that any pos/neg couples have tried/done? Although I do know adoption is also an option, I'd really like to have my own baby one day which is why I ask.
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A few hiv-specialist docs out there will tell their patients that their risk of getting hiv while trying to conceive is low if, and only if, the hiv+ person is on medication, is completely compliant with taking their medication, and has had an undetectable and if they only have sex when they know the woman is ovulating. Some docs will even try to lower the risk more by prescribing HIV medications to the negative partner as there is incidental evidence that taking medications ahead of a possible exposure may decrease the risk of getting HIV.
But honestly, if you have the money, in my oppinion anything to reduce risk (ie sperm washing) is money well spent.
There are some places that offer affordable IFV and/or sperm washing. One example I know of off the top of my head is Coloumbia University Medical Center, which offers sliding scale to reproductive services patients, if the money really just isn't there. They also take health insurance and offer patient financing.