Women, HIV, and Pregnancy

• AIDS is increasing most rapidly in women?
• Heterosexual transmission is the most rapidly growing route of HIV infection? Did you know?

You might be at risk for the AIDS virus, HIV, if you have:

• had sex with someone whose sexual or drug using history you don't know
• had a partner who had sex with other people
• had sex with a hemophiliac (person with a blood clotting disorder)
• shared needles while injecting drugs or had sex with someone who did
• received a blood transfusion before 1985
• had a sexually transmitted disease
• You cannot tell by looking at someone whether or not they have HIV. People with HIV infection can carry the virus for ten years or more before developing symptoms.

Did you know?

• Knowing your HIV status is more important than ever. Many women with HIV do not have any identifiable risk factors. The Center for Disease Control recommends HIV testing for all pregnant women.
• New research is showing that people with HIV disease can stay healthy and live longer with early treatment?
• Women with HIV have about a one in four chances of passing HIV to a baby. New research is showing that women are less likely to pass the virus to their baby if they take a medication called AZT during pregnancy?
• Breastfeeding can pass HIV to a baby. If you know you have HIV you can avoid breastfeeding.
• The US Centers for Disease Control recommends that all pregnant women be offered HIV testing.
• You can have a confidential HIV test in the clinic. You can have an anonymous test (not using your name) at one of Iowa's alternate test sites. Ask your doctor, nurse midwife or nurse if you would like to be tested.

Safest

• Don't have sex with anyone unless you have had sex only with each other and neither of you has ever injected drugs.
• Before you decide to have sex, think about protection.

• Use a latex condom every time you have oral, vaginal, or rectal sex. A spermicide may add to your protection. Some condoms contain a spermicide, or you can use a spermicide cream. Don't use oil-based lubricants such as Vaseline, or mineral oil with condoms.
• If your partner is reluctant, do not cave in. Practice to build protection into your lovemaking. Put the condom on your male partner. Try out different kinds of condoms.

• If a male partner will not use a condom, you can use a female condom. This is a type of condom worn internally by the woman. A spermicide cream may add protection.

• Use a diaphragm with spermicide jelly or cream, as usual, then add extra spermicide into your vagina.

• Vaginal foam or cream spermicide alone

Is AZT the Right Choice for You and Your Baby?

If you are pregnant and have HIV or AIDS, you may pass the virus to your baby. Taking AZT can lessen the chance that HIV will pass to your baby. AZT is a medicine used to treat HIV infection. AZT is also called zidovudine or ZDV. A baby can get HIV from an HIV-infected mother in three ways: during pregnancy, during delivery, and after delivery through breast feeding.

After delivery, your health care provider will ask for your consent to test your baby for HIV. Many babies can be diagnosed as either HIV-infected or not infected by 6 months of age. In some cases, it takes up to 18 months to know for sure if a baby has HIV. AZT is one of the medicines that works against HIV. AZT may slow down the virus and the effects it has on your body. Many people who have HIV feel better while taking AZT. Sometime AZT causes problems such as upset stomach, anemia (low blood), headache, or muscle soreness. These problems usually go away when AZT is stopped or the dose is lowered. Your health care provider will discuss the benefits and risks of using AZT if it is suggested for you.

Last Reviewed 2005

Source: Department of Nursing: Children's and Women's Services/OB-GYN Patient Education Committee

Disclaimer: This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information provided is intended to be informative and educational and is not a replacement for professional medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.