Human immunodeficiency virus infection and fertility care in the United Kingdom: demand and supply

Abstract

Objective: To collect data on the demand and provision of fertility care in HIV-infected couples in the United Kingdom and data on the etiology of subfertility in this population.

Design: A postal questionnaire survey and audit of causes of infertility in HIV-infected women.

Setting: Seventy-four Human Embryology and Fertilisation Authority-registered assisted conception units (ACUs) and 294 genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinics in the United Kingdom were sent questionnaires.

Patient(s): Sixty-five HIV-infected women attending the Research Clinic at the Chelsea and Westminster ACU.

Intervention(s): None.

Main outcome measure(s): Number of ACUs treating HIV-infected patients and number of GUM clinics receiving requests for referral, as well as the etiology of subfertility in HIV-infected women attending our clinic.

Result(s): Response rates from ACUs and GUM clinics were 93% and 63%, respectively. Fourteen ACUs (20%) were treating HIV-infected men; of these, seven (10%) performed sperm washing, but only two (3%) tested sperm for HIV after processing, before use. Nine units (13%) treated HIV-infected women, but only three ACUs (4%) had separate laboratories for handling potentially infected gametes or embryos. Of the 15,211 patients registered in 81 GUM clinics, 4% of the men and 16% of the women had requested advice on conceiving. An audit of the Chelsea and Westminster HIV fertility clinic demonstrated a 40% prevalence of tubal factor infertility in HIV-infected women.

Conclusion(s): Demand is high, and set to increase, but current suboptimal practice in some centers is placing unaffected partners and the unborn child at risk of seroconversion.