July 11, 2012

Canadians with well-managed HIV are increasingly planning pregnancies. Now their physicians can support them with the help of the Canadian HIV Pregnancy Planning Guidelines written by Women’s College scientist and physician Dr. Mona Loutfy, who is also an associate professor in the department of medicine at the University of Toronto.

“These are the first stand-alone preconception guidelines that consider same-sex couples and individuals who are looking to start families,” says Shari Margolese, who worked closely with Dr. Loutfy to create the new guidelines. “An important aspect of the guidelines is the breakdown of stigma surrounding HIV and pregnancy.

“Historically, there were not a lot of fertility options available for HIV-positive women or partners of HIV-positive men,” explains Margolese. “Many clinics would see them and not want to help them.”

The guidelines were published in June in partnership with the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada, the Canadian Fertility and Andrology Society and the Canadian HIV/AIDS Trials Network. They were reviewed by the Infectious Diseases Committee and the Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility Committee of the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada and by the Canadian HIV Pregnancy Planning Guideline Development Team Core Working Group.