Therapy

During pregnancy you should only take medication that you really need. As an example, this includes HIV medication that keeps you healthy and helps to prevent HIV transmission to your child.

If you are afraid that the medication could harm your child, talk to your HIV doctor.

If you are not yet taking HIV treatment…

… e.g. because your HIV infection has only just been diagnosed, you should start therapy as soon as possible.

If you are already taking HIV treatment…

… your doctor will check whether your HIV medication is suitable for pregnancy or whether you should switch to a different medication. 

For HIV treatment, it is especially important that you take your medication as prescribed: if the active ingredients are not present in your body in the right quantity, the virus can become resistant – and your medication will no longer work as intended.

If you suffer from nausea or vomiting during the first weeks of pregnancy, your body may not have enough time to absorb the medication. And if you are feeling constantly nauseous, it may be difficult for you to take your medication as prescribed. In that case, do not stop taking the medication on your own. Instead, you should consult your HIV specialist as soon as possible.

If you are taking other substances…

… e.g. herbal or traditional medicine, you should consult your doctor. Some of these substances may affect the effectiveness of the HIV medication.