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J Med Ethics 2003;29:315-320 doi:10.1136/jme.29.6.315
  • Symposium on HIV and assisted reproductive technologies

Use of assisted reproductive technology to reduce the risk of transmission of HIV in discordant couples wishing to have their own children where the male partner is seropositive with an undetectable viral load

  1. H W G Baker1,
  2. A Mijch2,
  3. S Garland3,
  4. S Crowe4,
  5. M Dunne5,
  6. D Edgar6,
  7. G Clarke7,
  8. P Foster8,
  9. J Blood9
  1. 1University of Melbourne, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and Melbourne IVF Reproductive Services, Royal Women’s Hospital, Melbourne, Australia
  2. 2Victorian HIV/AIDS Services, Department of Infectious Diseases, Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Australia
  3. 3Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Disease, Infection Control, Royal Women’s Hospital, Melbourne, Australia
  4. 4AIDS Pathogenesis Research Unit, Macfarlane Burnet Institute for Medical Research and Public Health, Melbourne, Australia
  5. 5Clinical Research Laboratory, Macfarlane Burnet Institute for Medical Research and Public Health, Melbourne, Australia
  6. 6Melbourne IVF Reproductive Services, Royal Women’s Hospital, Melbourne, Australia
  7. 7Andrology Laboratory, Royal Women’s Hospital, Melbourne, Australia
  8. 8Melbourne IVF Reproductive Services, Royal Women’s Hospital, Melbourne, Australia
  9. 9Melbourne IVF Reproductive Services, Royal Women’s Hospital, Melbourne, Australia
  1. Correspondence to:
 Dr H W G Baker
 132 Grattan Street, Carlton, Melbourne, 3053, Australia; g.bakerunimelb.edu.au
  • Accepted 30 May 2003
  • Revised 10 June 2002

Abstract

The advances in treatment of HIV and the introduction of polymerase chain reaction assay for the virus now make it acceptable for HIV discordant couples where the male partner is seropositive to attempt to conceive through artificial insemination by husband (AIH) or via in vitro fertilisation. With undetectable viral load and washed sperm, there is minimal risk of transmission of HIV to the female partner, children, other patients, or staff. We describe the development of a programme of AIH for HIV discordant couples and the reasoning behind offering such a programme.

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