Surrogacy for HIV+ Men
Surrogacy For HIV Positive Couples and Men
The journey to becoming a parent for single men, gay individuals and couples can be confusing. But as an HIV-positive man, the road might seem almost impossible to navigate. At Pinnacle Surrogacy (in collaboration with Pinnacle Fertility Clinics) we have the experience, expertise, and technology to make your parenthood journey as seamless as possible. Pinnacle F is one of a limited number of fertility clinics in the United States that offer fertility services includng HIV sperm washing, egg donation and surrogacy, to HIV positive men. Our state-of-the art fertility labs are equipped to safely wash sperm in order to eliminate transmission of HIV to the surrogate and infant. These services, when combined with our in-house egg donor and agencies,allow us to provide highly efficient medical care with the utmost attention to privacy and confidentiality.
Can an HIV Positive Man Father a Child?
The world is changing, and medical technology is changing along with it. HIV is not the death sentence that it was forty years ago. However, the virus may still carry a stigma and a whole heap of misconceptions. Before we move on, let’s clear up a dangerous myth that some still believe: that HIV-positive people cannot conceive an HIV-negative child. The fact is, both men and women who are HIV-positive can create and raise healthy, happy, and HIV-negative children by working with their doctors and staying on top of their treatment.
What is HIV Sperm Washing?
Understanding how HIV is transmitted will help you see how the virus can be passed from parent to child. While HIV is sexually transmitted, the virus is not actually carried by a man’s individual sperm cells. Rather, the virus is carried by the seminal fluid. Because of this, a process called sperm washing is frequently used to help HIV-positive men conceive a healthy, HIV-negative baby.
Sperm washing is a laboratory procedure in which a semen sample is processed to remove seminal fluid, non-moving sperm cells, cellular debris, and bacteria. What’s left is a population of highly-motile sperm cells that can be used during IVF to create embryos. The washing process is also highly effective in reducing the viral load of HIV to non-detectable levels.
HIV Sperm Washing Process
Typically, the freshly produced semen sample is layered over a specially prepared density gradient in a test tube. It is then spun in a centrifuge to separate the highly motile sperm cells from all the other components of the ejaculate. Washed sperm has been used successfully and safely in thousands of fertility treatment cycles.
Egg Donor and Surrogacy for HIV Positive Men
Using an egg donor and a surrogate make it possible for gay men to conceive their own, biological child. For HIV-positive men, this process will involve combining healthy donor eggs with sperm that has gone through HIV sperm washing. A surrogate will then carry the resulting embryos. While this process is very helpful for gay fathers, all different types of people use egg donation and/or surrogacy to become parents.
At Santa Monica Fertility, we use our in-house egg donation and surrogacy agencies to help intended parents choose both egg donors and surrogates. We thoroughly screen every woman, running health examinations, background checks, and more to ensure they are the right fit for either donation or surrogacy. We then work closely with all of our intended parents to help them choose the right egg donor and find a surrogate that is right for them. Our full-service clinic is here to support you during every step of this journey, making a notoriously long process as easy and stress-free as possible.
LGBTQ+ Individuals and Couples
We respect your right to become a parent in a way that works for your family. We work with many LGBTQ+ couples and individuals and understand the unique challenges that they face on the road to parenthood. Our goal is always to provide you with healthcare that is safe, affirming, and effective. If you and your partner are both HIV-positive, then we can use sperm washing, egg donation, and surrogacy to help you create a healthy baby.
Surrogates for Men With HIV in the United States
At Pinnacle Surrogacy, we have many years of successful experience assisting patients from all over the world to become parents with the help of surrogates. One of very limited fertility clinics in the United States, we specialize in HIV Surrogacy and our team of expert coordinators will support you throughout your entire journey; from the very first contact to taking a HIV negative baby home.
Surrogacy Clinic for HIV Positive Men
At Santa Monica Fertility, we can help you become a parent, regardless of your HIV status. We use cutting-edge science and a caring, compassionate approach to make the process of HIV surrogacy as seamless as possible. If you are ready to get started with building your family, or just need someone to answer your questions, please contact us online or call us at 877 261 0392. We are here to answer any surrogacy question you may have.
We also invite you to explore our site where you can find information about surrogacy success rates, cost of surrogacy, surrogacy epigenetics (does a surrogate share DNA with baby), and our FAQ section will answer many questions that you may have.
HIV Sperm Washing FAQs
How does HIV affect sperm?
Although HIV can affect sperm quality and quantity, the HIV virus is only found in semen and not in sperm cells.
After separating the sperm from the semen, we use the sperm in the IVF process. This allows us to eliminate the risk of HIV transmission to the embryo and the resulting child.
How effective is sperm washing for HIV?
Sperm washing is very effective at preventing transmission of HIV – especially for men taking HIV suppression therapy who are viral load negative.
What does sperm washing do?
Sperm washing separates sperm cells from semen. Semen contains white blood cells and other components that can harbor HIV.
This means that the washed sperm used in the IVF process will be free of the HIV virus – eliminating the risk of HIV transmission to the baby, mother, or a surrogate.
What is the process of sperm washing?
During the sperm washing process, semen is placed in a test tube and centrifuged at a high speed to separate sperm cells from the rest of the seminal fluid. The sperm is then washed two more times to assure the removal of HIV particles.
Does sperm wash increase motility?
Yes, sperm washing isolates the most motile and normal-appearing sperm, which is then used for the IVF process.
Can I father a healthy baby while on ARV medication to suppress HIV viral load?
Absolutely! ARV medication will suppress the viral load and help you have an HIV-negative biological child. Combined with sperm washing and an IVF process, the risk of transmitting HIV to the baby or the mother/surrogate is eliminated.
Can someone with HIV use a surrogate?
Absolutely! With HIV suppression through ARVS and sperm washing, the chance of HIV transmission in most major studies has been zero. Thus, posing no risk to the surrogate. We work with many surrogates who are willing to carry a baby for an HIV-positive father.
Can HIV positive man have a baby?
Yes, with proper HIV suppression and sperm washing to eliminate HIV viral particles, an HIV positive man can have a healthy, HIV negative biological baby.
I am HIV positive; how do you ensure that my surrogate baby will be HIV negative?
With HIV suppression through ARVS and sperm washing, the chance of HIV transmission in most major studies has been zero. Thus, posing no risk to the surrogate or the baby.
At Pinnacle Surrogacy, we work with many surrogates who are willing to carry a baby for an HIV positive father.