Abstract
Existing U.S. guidelines recommend that men with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection should achieve virologic suppression* with effective antiretroviral therapy (ART) before attempting conception (1). Clinical studies have demonstrated that effective ART profoundly reduces the risk for HIV transmission (2-4). This information might be useful for counseling couples planning a pregnancy in which the man has HIV infection and the woman does not (i.e., a mixed HIV-status couple, often referred to as a serodiscordant couple).
Highlights
The risk for male-to-female sexual transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in the absence of any prevention measures is estimated to be approximately 8 per 10,000 episodes of condomless intercourse (95% confidence intervals = 6–11) [5]
Recent studies have shown that men taking antiretroviral therapy (ART) who have no detectable HIV RNA in their peripheral blood can occasionally have HIV genetic material detected in their semen [6,7,8]
As many as 25% of men have had HIV RNA detected in semen after 3 months of viral suppression [6]
Summary
The PARTNER and Opposites Attract studies quantified the extent of sexual exposure; 548 heterosexual couples (269 [49%] with a male HIV-infected partner) and 658 male-male couples from 14 European countries, Australia, Brazil, and Thailand engaged in >74,000 condomless episodes of vaginal or anal intercourse during >1,500 couple-years of observation [3,4]. All three studies observed no HIV transmission to the uninfected partner while the partner with HIV was virologically suppressed with ART [2,3,4]. Recent studies have shown that men taking ART who have no detectable HIV RNA in their peripheral blood can occasionally have HIV genetic material detected in their semen [6,7,8].
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
