HIV and gamete interactions

Abstract

With the development of combination therapies and their use for the treatment of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the health and life expectancy of HIV-positive patients has improved significantly. As a result, HIV-discordant couples are looking to a future that involves starting a family. However, the potential risks of exposing HIV-infected sperm to oocytes are still being assessed. This article outlines the clinical detection of HIV in semen samples, the relationships between HIV and semen parameters, and HIV-sperm and oocyte interactions. It also considers the implications of introducing exogenous genetic material into an oocyte via intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) and the possible implications of this for assisted reproduction.