Surrogacy For HIV Positive

Can an HIV Positive Man Father a Child?

Yes, with advancements in assisted reproductive technology (ART), HIV positive men can father children safely. Traditional methods of conception may pose a risk of transmitting HIV to the partner or child. However, with the help of certain procedures, such as sperm washing, the risk can be significantly reduced.

What is HIV Sperm Washing?

HIV sperm washing is a process used to separate HIV from sperm cells. The technique involves isolating healthy sperm cells from the semen of an HIV positive man to minimize the risk of HIV transmission to the female partner or resulting child.

HIV Sperm Washing Process:

Semen Collection: The process begins with the collection of semen from the HIV positive man. This is typically done through masturbation into a sterile container.

Semen Processing: The collected semen is then processed in a laboratory. Various techniques, such as density gradient centrifugation or swim-up methods, are used to separate healthy sperm from HIV-infected cells and seminal fluid.

Washing Procedure: The separated sperm cells undergo a thorough washing process to remove any traces of HIV or seminal fluid. This significantly reduces the viral load in the sperm sample.

Quality Assessment: The washed sperm sample is then assessed for its quality, including sperm count, motility, and morphology. Only high-quality sperm is selected for further use in assisted reproductive procedures.

Cryopreservation: Once the quality of the sperm sample is confirmed, it is cryopreserved (frozen) until it is needed for fertilization.

Egg Donor and Surrogacy for HIV Positive Men:

After the sperm washing process, HIV positive men can pursue different options for conception, including:

Egg Donation: HIV positive men may choose to fertilize donor eggs using the washed sperm through in vitro fertilization (IVF) procedures. The egg donor can be a known or anonymous individual whose eggs are retrieved and fertilized in the laboratory.

Surrogacy: Once embryos are created from the fertilized donor eggs and washed sperm, they can be transferred to a surrogate mother’s uterus for gestation. The surrogate carries the pregnancy to term and delivers the baby on behalf of the intended parents. Surrogacy allows HIV positive men to become biological fathers while minimizing the risk of HIV transmission to the child or surrogate.