My partner is HIV-positive and I’m HIV-negative. We practise safe sex but we want to have a baby. What should we do?

I am happy to hear that you both know your status and that you practise safe sex. With regard to having babies, I suggest that you speak to the doctor or health-care worker you have been seeing. Nowadays there are a number of options. For example, there is a process called sperm washing, where the doctors can take your partner’s sperm and “wash” it in a laboratory and then fertilise your egg with it. This process is available but can be expensive. If, after getting advice, you decide not to fall pregnant, you can also ask for advice about adoption.

If you have access to the Internet, please log into Karabo. This website has a wealth of information about HIV. You will also find a link on the Karabo website to the HIV Clinicians Society, an organisation of doctors who are specialists in HIV. A decision to have a baby is a serious one and you need as much information as possible to make an informed choice.

Good luck.

Sis’ Lebo