Natural Conception for HIV-Positive Parents

More good news for HIV-positive people hoping to conceive: a combination treatment that allows for natural conception may soon be available in Australia. But what will it mean for addressing the stigma attached to those living with HIV? And what about those born to HIV-positive parents?
Jennifer Power has discussed this topic at The Conversation with the introduction of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP); a course of a combination of antiretroviral treatment (ART) drug Truvada for partners of HIV-positive people to take in the course of natural conception.
Thanks to ART, mother-to-child transmission of HIV has been rare in Australia. This next step means hopeful parents could avoid the expensive and emotional costs associated with fertility treatments and sperm washing, previously the only options available to them.
PrEP is also said to increase the chances of fertilisation compared to IVF and has proven a significant boost to relationships already struggling from the strains of the effects of HIV.
Of course despite the reduction of risk, the issue of HIV-positive people reproducing has not provided those living with the disease a respite from its associated stigma. In fact, the concept of bringing children into a family with HIV was enough to lead friends, family and even strangers to attack potential mothers for their decisions. Obviously we have a long way to go in bringing respect to those living with HIV, and one can only think of how the children of these families will be treated.