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[Insemination from HIV-positive males]
Lior Lowenstein1, Abraham Lightman, Zipi Kra-Oz
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Rambam Medical Center and Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel. l_lior@rambam.health.gov.il
Harefuah
|June 4, 2005
Summary
This study presents a safe method for HIV-1 discordant couples to have healthy children. The procedure removes HIV from semen before intrauterine insemination, preventing female partner infection.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Medicine
- Virology
- Genetics
Context:
- HIV-1 discordant couples (male HIV-positive, female HIV-negative) face significant challenges in achieving biological parenthood safely.
- Unprotected intercourse poses a high risk of HIV transmission to the uninfected female partner.
Purpose:
- To develop and validate a method for HIV removal from semen.
- To enable safe conception for HIV-1 discordant couples through intrauterine insemination (IUI) using HIV-screened spermatozoa.
Summary:
- Motile spermatozoa were isolated using gradient and "swim-up" techniques.
- Semen and purified sperm fractions were tested for HIV-RNA using PCR before and after processing.
- IUI was performed only when PCR confirmed the absence of viral particles in the sperm fraction.
Impact:
- Successful births of two healthy, HIV-negative babies to HIV-1 discordant couples.
- Demonstrates a safe reproductive option, preventing HIV transmission to the female partner.
- Clinical data supports the efficacy and safety of this procedure for assisted reproduction.