"To more fully reap the benefits of contraception as an HIV prevention strategy, greater integration of family planning (FP) and HIV programs is needed, particularly in generalized epidemic settings where women of childbearing age are disproportionately affected by HIV and AIDS". 

Objectives: To estimate the number of HIV-positive births currently prevented by contraceptive use in the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) focus countries and to estimate the first year cost savings to each country if unintended and unwanted HIV-positive births were prevented via contraceptive use rather than providing antiretroviral prophylaxis for HIV-positive pregnant women (“PMTCT services”).

Background: Most efforts to date to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV have focused on provision of antiretroviral prophylaxis to HIV-infected pregnant women. Increasing voluntary contraceptive use has been an underused approach, despite clear evidence that preventing pregnancies in HIV-infected women who do not wish to become pregnant is an effective strategy for reducing HIV-positive births.

With increased access to antiretroviral (ARV) therapy, and the resulting improvements in health, many clients with HIV are reconsidering their reproductive options — some are deciding whether to have children, and others are resuming sexual activity while wanting to avoid pregnancy. As a result, demand for contraception among clients with HIV — especially those on ARV therapy — has increased, and new integrated options for improving access to contraception are being considered.  

This brief focuses on the following points: Women with HIV/AIDS, including those who are taking ARVs, can start and use almost all family planning methods safely and effectively. Women on ARVs need access to contraception for compelling reasons. To successfully reach ARV recipients, contraceptive services need to be integrated with HIV care from the start.

With access to family planning services, supportive care, and the information needed to make good choices, women with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), including women with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), in many cases can lead healthy sexual and reproductive lives. Like all other women, women with HIV have the right to make their own decisions about their reproductive and sexual health. Health care programs and providers can help women with HIV and their partners make and carry out informed reproductive health decisions.

This job aid guides counselors trained to advise clients about their HIV status and its implications to also advise these clients about appropriate family planning methods.  

This tool is designed to help health workers counsel people living with HIV on sexual and reproductive choices and family planning. It also is meant to help people living with HIV make and carry out informed, healthy, and appropriate decisions about their sexual and reproductive lives.

This tool offers family planning and HIV care providers a quick reference to answer common questions about HIV that women and their partners have. Specifically, it provides information on some basic facts of HIV acquisition, on family planning use for women with HIV, on the health of pregnant women with HIV and their infants, and on mother-to-child transmission of HIV. Information is presented in a simple question and answer format.

This publication provides guidance on adapting health services to address the sexual and reproductive health needs of women living with HIV/AIDS. It contains recommendations for counseling, care and other interventions that are based on the available scientific evidence and accumulated programmatic experience.