Infertility treatment for HIV–serodiscordant couples

Abstract

Infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) was once associated with a poor prognosis. Today, however, with the use of highly active anti-retroviral therapy, the condition has been reduced to no more than a chronic illness, infected people leading normal lives. In addition, infertility and obstetric treatment can be individualized to enable infected couples to conceive safely and give birth with a minimal risk of cross-infecting the baby. This supports the idea that HIV–serodiscordant couples desiring fertility treatment should be offered the full range of services available without discrimination. This chapter examines the approach to treatment when one of the partners is infected, the goal being to achieve fertility with minimal or no risk to the uninfected partner, the potential offspring or the managing team.