Pregnancy and HIV Testing

HIV, or human immunodeficiency virus, is the virus that causes AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome). HIV weakens a person's immune system reducing their ability to fight infections and cancers. A person can get HIV by coming into contact with an infected person's body fluids (blood, semen, vaginal fluids, breast milk), and HIV can be spread through:

• Vaginal, oral, or anal sex
• Sharing unclean needles to take drugs
• Pregnancy (from an infected mother to baby)
• Blood transfusions (since 1985, blood donations have been routinely tested for HIV, so infection from blood transfusions is rare)

You cannot get HIV from:

• Touching or hugging someone who has HIV or AIDS
• Public bathrooms or swimming pools
• Sharing cups, utensils, telephones, or other personal items
• Bug bites

Doctors recommend all pregnant women get tested for HIV. Medications are available to prevent the spread of the virus to your unborn baby. In addition, steps can be taken during delivery to prevent spreading the infection. Some studies show a woman can further reduce the risk of spreading the virus to her baby by having a cesarean section before her water breaks. Moreover, your health care provider can take steps to help you stay healthy longer.

HIV testing is voluntary. Anyone is free to decline testing. Your decision to not get tested, or the test result itself, will not prevent you from getting health care during pregnancy.

What Do the HIV Test Results Mean?

A confirmed, positive test result means you have been infected with HIV. Being infected with HIV does not necessarily mean that you have AIDS. It can take many years for people with HIV to develop AIDS.

A negative test result means that no signs of HIV infection were found in your blood. A negative test does not always mean that you do not have HIV. Signs of HIV may not show up in the blood for several months after infection. For this reason, you should be tested again if you could have been exposed to HIV or are at risk for HIV infection.

Though HIV tests performed at most doctors offices become part of the patient's medical record, there are places you can go that provide confidential HIV testing. These places will perform HIV tests without even taking your name (anonymous testing). An anonymous HIV test does not become part of your medical record.

Should you discover that you have HIV, inform you medical providers so that you can receive proper care.