Fertility Treatment in HIV-Discordant Couples: The Ontario Experience
Author Information
Author(s): Newmeyer Trent, Tecimer Sandy N., Jaworsky Denise, Chihrin Steven, Gough Kevin, Rachlis Anita, Martin James, Mohammed Saira, Loutfy Mona R.
Primary Institution: Brock University, St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada
Hypothesis
What are the experiences and challenges faced by HIV-discordant couples in accessing fertility treatments?
Conclusion
HIV-discordant couples face significant barriers in accessing sperm washing and fertility services, which impacts their ability to conceive safely.
Supporting Evidence
- Access to sperm washing and fertility services is significantly limited for HIV-discordant couples.
- Participants identified a lack of information on sperm washing procedures.
- Stigma surrounding HIV negatively affects couples' intentions to conceive.
Takeaway
Couples where one partner has HIV and the other does not want to have babies, but they face many challenges in getting help to do so safely.
Methodology
Chart reviews and semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 HIV-discordant couples in Ontario.
Potential Biases
Participants may have been biased towards those who had positive experiences with sperm washing.
Limitations
The study had a small sample size and may not represent the broader HIV-discordant population.
Participant Demographics
Most participants were Caucasian, with an average age of 37 for females and 38 for males, and the majority had some college or university education.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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