Can People Living With HIV Have Children Without Transmitting the Virus?

Yes. People living with HIV can have children without transmitting the virus as long as they receive proper medical care and use specific assisted reproduction techniques. Antiretroviral therapy and procedures such as sperm washing make it possible to virtually eliminate the risk of transmission to the future baby.

Is a Safe Pregnancy Possible When Living With HIV?

Yes. Today, motherhood and fatherhood are fully accessible to individuals living with HIV. Thanks to major medical advances and antiretroviral treatments, vertical transmission (mother-to-baby) has been reduced to below 1% when the pregnant individual maintains an undetectable viral load.

The key is close clinical monitoring starting from pregnancy planning. Specialists agree that once undetectable viral levels are confirmed, assisted reproduction adds an extra layer of safety and minimizes any remaining risk.

HIV and Pregnancy: How Is Transmission to the Baby Prevented?

There are three fundamental pillars:

• Well‑controlled antiretroviral treatment, which keeps the virus undetectable.
• Specialized medical supervision, especially during the third trimester and delivery.
• Use of assisted reproduction techniques to prevent exposure to the virus when one partner is HIV‑positive.

Research and clinical experience from specialized centers have shown that, when these measures are followed, pregnancies are safe and babies are born free of infection.

What Options Exist for Women With HIV Who Want to Become Mothers?

When a woman is living with HIV, pregnancy is carefully planned with particular attention to:

• Viral load control: it must be very low or undetectable before trying to conceive.
• Close monitoring throughout pregnancy, with increased surveillance during the third trimester.
• Strict and consistent adherence to antiretroviral treatment.
• Assessment of delivery method: vaginal birth is safe when viral load is undetectable. If the viral load is high, a cesarean delivery is recommended to reduce risks.

Thanks to progress over recent decades, HIV and assisted reproduction units report excellent outcomes. Women in good health and under proper treatment can experience complication‑free pregnancies and give birth to healthy babies.

What Techniques Are Recommended When the Male Partner has HIV?

The most important technique is sperm washing, a highly effective and safe procedure designed to separate the sperm cells from the seminal plasma, where viral particles may be found.

After processing, the virus‑free sperm fraction can be used for intrauterine insemination (IUI) or in vitro fertilization (IVF) with ICSI.

Is Sperm Washing Safe?

Yes—scientific evidence is very strong. The process includes:

• Physical separation of sperm cells
• Freezing the sample to ensure stability
• PCR testing to confirm the absence of viral particles before clinical use

Since its introduction, thousands of cycles have been performed with safe outcomes and success rates comparable to those of couples without HIV.

As Dr. Manuel Muñoz, Director of IVI Alicante, explains: “Accurate information is essential for people living with HIV to understand their options and build their family without fear or stigma.”

What Does the Step‑by‑Step Process Look Like?

These are the main steps of the process to obtain a safe pregnancy.

First consultation and clinical evaluation

Review of medical history, current HIV status, and confirmation that treatment is working effectively.

Viral load control

The viral load must be undetectable before starting any assisted reproduction technique.

Selection of the most appropriate treatment

If the woman is HIV‑negative and the man is HIV‑positive → sperm washing + IUI or IVF/ICSI.

If the woman is HIV‑positive → pregnancy planning + IVF if reproductive factors require it.

Laboratory procedure

For men, this step will involve:

• Semen collection
• Sperm washing
• Freezing the processed sample
• PCR verification to confirm it is virus‑free

Fertility treatment

Depending on the case, we can perform Intrauterine insemination (IUI) or IVF + ICSI, especially when sample volume is low or additional male‑factor infertility is present.

Pregnancy monitoring

Strict viral load monitoring and specialized obstetric follow‑up.

Common Fears: Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some of the most frequent doubts we find about this topic. 

Is my partner at risk if I have HIV?

With an undetectable viral load and the use of assisted reproduction, the risk is essentially zero. Still, specialists evaluate each case individually.

Is the baby at risk?

When the pregnant woman maintains good antiretroviral control, current risk is under 1%. If the male partner is HIV‑positive, sperm washing reduces the risk to practically zero.

Will I need a C‑section?

Only if the maternal viral load is high in the third trimester.

Does HIV affect fertility?

HIV itself does not always affect fertility, but general health and certain treatments may. That’s why individualized assessment is essential.

Conclusions

• People living with HIV can have children without transmitting the virus.
• Maintaining an undetectable viral load and having a specialized medical team are key.
• Women with HIV can experience safe pregnancies with proper monitoring and treatment.
• For men with HIV, sperm washing enables the safe use of virus‑free sperm.
• Assisted reproduction removes virtually all added risk and offers high success rates.
• Living with HIV is not a barrier to building a family.

At IVI we’ve already helped many patients with HIV having a baby free of the virus. If you need a first consultation with one of our specialists, please phone us or fill the web formular so the team can contact you.