HIV-positive patients undertaking ART have longer infertility histories than age-matched control subjects.
OBJECTIVE
To review 5 years of assisted reproductive treatments (ART) provided to couples affected by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).


METHODS
Age-matched cohort study.


METHODS
University-based tertiary center.


METHODS
Couples in whom the male (n = 87), female (n = 57), or both (n = 17) partners were HIV infected. The first ART cycle was compared with three sets of age-matched control subjects (3-to-1) which included 261, 171, and 51 couples, respectively.


METHODS
ART in HIV-infected couples and age-matched controls.


METHODS
Infertility duration and ART outcome.


RESULTS
When initiating ART, all three HIV-infected groups had longer infertility histories, computed from when conception was attempted or infertility diagnosed, compared with noninfected age-matched control subjects. Outcome, however, was not different when only the male or female partner was infected, though with a trend toward higher cancellation and lower pregnancy rates. When both partners were HIV infected, cancellation were higher and pregnancy rates lower (12% versus 41.2%), than in age-matched control subjects.


CONCLUSIONS
Our data showed longer infertility histories in all HIV-infected couples when undertaking their first ART. Outcome, however, was not altered when only one partner--male or female--was HIV infected. Efforts should therefore aim at assuring that HIV-infected couples access ART as promptly as their noninfected counterparts.
Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Medicine, Université Paris Descartes-Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris, CHU Cochin, Paris, France.
Pietro
P
Santulli
Vanessa
V
Gayet
Patricia
P
Fauque
Nicolas
N
Chopin
Emmanuel
E
Dulioust
Jean Philippe
JP
Wolf
Charles
C
Chapron
Dominique
D
de Ziegler
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D015497:HIV-1; D006801:Humans; D007246:Infertility / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D017584:Reproductive History; D027724:Reproductive Techniques, Assisted / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome