I wrote about a friend’s cousin who had AIDS yesterday and his bride's decision to go ahead and marry him regardless. I decided to write about HIV and AIDS and discuss the risks involved with having a partner with the disease.
HIV stands for Human Immune Virus which means it’s a virus that attacks our immune system, specifically the CD4 cells which are a type of white blood cells that fight against diseases. Overtime, the virus attacks the immune system making it weak which then damages the immune system and leads to AIDS( Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome). Transmission of HIV is usually through body fluids like semen, breast milk, vaginal fluids and blood. So the concern for the lady in question getting married to this guy is a huge risk.
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If this was the year 2000, we would have been really worried for her. But there have been advancements in the medical world that can guarantee her wellbeing if precautions are taken. By precautions, I’m not talking about condoms, far from it. To reduce the risk of transmission of the disease to his partner, the man can reduce his viral load through effective antiretroviral therapy. Viral load is simply a term for the number of HIV in a person's bloodstream, it is measured by counting the number of copies of the virus in a sample of blood. When the viral load is low and undetectable, the risk of transmission is equally low.
Another measire for precaution is Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP). The woman who does not have HIV can take pre-exposure prophylaxis, commonly known as PrEP. PrEP involves taking a daily medication (such as Truvada or Descovy) that can greatly reduce the risk of acquiring HIV. PrEP works exactly the way sunscreens work if you do not want to get sunburned. So this works as a protection against HIV. It is a medication that is taken everyday to prevent transmission of HIV.
These measures are not foolproof but they sure are helpful. The couple can also add the use of condoms for safety in addition to these safety measures.
But what happens if it’s the other way round?
The same applies for situations when the woman is infected and the man is not. However, if they intend to have children, it is wise that they prevent mother-to-child transmission by reducing her viral load too with the use of antiretroviral therapy. It is also preferable to deliver through a c-section rather than a vaginal delivery because the baby is exposed to more body fluids during the delivery process which increases the risk of transmission during vaginal delivery. After the baby is born, they will also receive medication to prevent HIV transmission. This medication is usually in liquid form and is given to the baby for a specific period. It helps protect the baby from getting HIV from the mother.
Another important step is to feed the baby with formula milk instead of breastfeeding. Although breastfeeding is generally healthy for babies, HIV can be transmitted through breast milk. Using formula milk instead of breastfeeding reduces the risk of HIV transmission.
The above mentioned precautionary measures will reduce risk of transmission of HIV and I believe the couple that got married must have considered all these too before they got married and had children. If you know anyone with HIV, please do not stigmatize them. They are normal people like you and I and deserve love too.
Reference
https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/basics/prevention.html
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