Natural Conception May Be an Acceptable Option in HIV-Serodiscordant Couples in Resource Limited Settings

PLoS One. 2015 Nov 5;10(11):e0142085. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0142085. eCollection 2015.

Abstract

Many HIV serodiscordant couples have a strong desire to have their own biological children. Natural conception may be the only choice in some resource limited settings but data about natural conception is limited. Here, we reported our findings of natural conception in HIV serodiscordant couples. Between January 2008 and June 2014, we retrospectively collected data on 91 HIV serodiscordant couples presenting to Beijing Youan Hospital with childbearing desires. HIV counseling, effective ART on HIV infected partners, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) in negative female partners and timed intercourse were used to maximally reduce the risk of HIV transmission. Of the 91 HIV serodiscordant couples, 43 were positive in male partners and 48 were positive in female partners. There were 196 unprotected vaginal intercourses, 100 natural conception and 97 newborns. There were no cases of HIV seroconversion in uninfected sexual partners. Natural conception may be an acceptable option in HIV-serodiscordant couples in resource limited settings if HIV-positive individuals have undetectable viremia on HAART, combined with HIV counseling, PrEP, PEP and timed intercourse.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Anti-HIV Agents / therapeutic use
  • Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active / methods
  • Beijing
  • Counseling / methods
  • Family Characteristics
  • Female
  • Fertilization / physiology*
  • HIV Infections / drug therapy
  • HIV Infections / physiopathology*
  • HIV Seropositivity / drug therapy
  • HIV Seropositivity / physiopathology*
  • Health Resources
  • Humans
  • Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical / prevention & control
  • Male
  • Post-Exposure Prophylaxis / methods
  • Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis / methods
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Sexual Partners

Substances

  • Anti-HIV Agents

Grants and funding

This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (81273136) and Development and Application Research of Beijing AIDS Clinical Data and Sample Repository (D13110700530000).