Abstract
Objective: The number of HIV serodiscordant couples, an HIV-1 infected husband andan uninfected wife who wish to have their own children, is growing. Because HIV is spread primarily through sexual contact, to prevent HIV transmission and to have a child is a rather contradictory matter. If the processed semen of the husband can be used to impregnate the seronegative wife without infection, this could be a solution.
Methods: Three groups of samples, semen obtained from HIV-positive male volunteers (group-I), seronegative semen plus HIV-positive serum (group-II), and HIV-positiveserum only (group-III), were treated with Sil-Select followed by swim-up method. HIV viral load was measured using a nested PCR (detection limit: 5 copies/tube).
Results: 55.6% of group-I and all of group-III proved negative. 50.0% of group-II, however, was still positive.
Discussion: Those treated with the combination methods had an obviously lowered viral load. But immediate attachment of virus to spermatozoon is possible. Production of viral-free spermatozoon through the method still seems difficult. If the techniqueto exclude HIV from semen is perfected and thus healthy semen can be supplied, there is be nodoubt the assisted reproductive technology can be adapted to those who desire a family. Futher studies are needed.
