We are happy to offer service to HIV-positive patients in our clinic. An HIV-infected person on antiretroviral therapy with an undetectable viral load cannot spread HIV through sexual contact. This can also be expanded to include surrogacy, as the embryo is created from the HIV-infected person's sperm and implanted into the Surrogate Mother's uterus.

In 1992, specialists began washing semen from HIV-positive men for insemination in HIV-negative women. Since then, these techniques have advanced significantly, in addition to the development of fully suppressive HIV regimens and the ability to measure HIV in the blood.

When working with our fertility clinic, your health and safety will be the top priority at all times. The clinic will use the most advanced assisted reproduction techniques, laboratory testing, and preventative medications to protect the surrogate and Intended Parent’s child.

To date, there have been no cases of HIV being transmitted to an HIV-negative person as the result of an embryo transfer. This includes all information dating back to the time frame prior to scientific advances allowing doctors to monitor HIV in the blood and fully suppressive HIV regimen.

In order to be considered non-infectious a person must:

• be following their HIV treatment protocols and taking all medication as directed

• have an undetectable viral load for a minimum of 6 months

• not have contracted any other sexually transmitted infections

To ensure the safety of the Surrogate Mother the Intended Parent is expected to:

 

• provide a record of an undetectable viral load dating back 6 months

• undergo testing for sexually transmitted infections

• provide multiple semen samples for testing to ensure that the viral levels are undetectable. If HIV is detected in the sperm those samples will be discarded.

• Although the possibility of transmitting the virus with molecular-based washed sperm is virtually nonexistent, sperm washing and molecular testing are performed for all HIV-positive parents-to-be to ensure the safety of our surrogate mothers and your baby.

 

Can the intended parents live a life with the same longevity as other HIV-negative parents?

 

Yes. HIV is now a long-term manageable disease with current medications able to completely control the virus for a full lifetime. National studies now calculate the life expectancy of those with and without HIV to be nearly identical, so bringing a child into a loving home with an individual or couple with or without HIV is essentially the same.