Can i have a child

Hi i am 22 years old and have been living with HIV for over 2years now i am engaged and i would love to have a child by 2009. I have a child already she is five years old not postive. Can i have a child with the help of medication and my child will not get infected?

[Teak]

This is something you should discuss with your ID doctor and not on an HIV Prevention forum.

[alienshadow]

i agree

[regularjoey]

Yes, HIV+ people can have HIV- children.  Your doctor should tell you what to do for this to happen.  My understanding is that basically you should be on HAART at the time of delivery and avoid breastfeeding.

[LIZZIE LOU]

SHE has eggs...not sperm

[troggs]

Can a woman birth a child without passing the virus along to the child...? What is the % of risk to the child?

[troggs]

Really, i always thought it was still a 40% risk or something like this-good to know people can birth healthy children. My concern is about weather or not it's a wise idea given the burden hiv will have on the parents health, ect, these are strong concerns to have regarding how effective a parent they can be as well as what they can offer the child with a debilitating illness hanging over their head(s).

[peekawho]

There is still a risk of peripartum transmission, but much less so if the woman is on appropriate medication during pregnancy and childbirth.

Whether the woman wants to take any risk is up to her.  

[troggs]

I wonder if i'll be wanting children if i test positive next week. I have property, money and nobody to leave it to after i'm gone. I've always wanted to father a child or two but now i'm uncertain about this idea.