Anti-HIV treatment

Mother-to-child transmission of HIV

A mother can pass HIV on to her baby during pregnancy, whilst it is being born, and by breastfeeding.

It is possible to reduce the risk of a the baby becoming infected with HIV if anti-HIV drugs are used during pregnancy and labour; the baby is born using an operation called a caesarean section if the mother has a detectable viral load at the time of delivery; and, in countries like the UK where safe alternatives are available, by not breastfeeding.

But it is essential to know if a mother is infected with HIV so steps can be made to reduce the risk of the infection being passed on to the baby. Therefore all pregnant women in the UK are offered an opt-out HIV test. But doctors have reported two cases where women who tested HIV-negative at the start of pregnancy went on to pass on HIV to their babies. The doctors who cared for these women think that this happened because the women became infected with HIV later in pregnancy. Both the women had partners who came from areas where a lot of people are HIV-positive. The women’s doctors suggest that women who have a high risk of HIV should be offered a second HIV during the 32 week of pregnancy to make sure they have not become infected with the virus since the first negative test.

Survey of people with HIV in the UK

A major survey is underway to find out what the health, social care and information needs are of people with HIV in the UK.

The results of the survey will be used to help plan HIV services. It is being conducted by Sigma Research, who specialise in research into HIV, sexuality and sexual health.

To complete the survey in English, click here, or to complete the survey in French, click here.

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