Systematic review of the effectiveness and safety of assisted reproduction techniques in couples serodiscordant for human immunodeficiency virus where the man is positive

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of assisted reproduction techniques (ART) in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) serodiscordant couples.

Design: Systematic review of five databases of noncomparative open intervention and observational studies of serodiscordant couples undergoing ART, with study selection and data extraction performed independently and in duplicate.

Setting: Tertiary fertility centers.

Patient(s): HIV serodiscordant couples where the man is HIV positive.

Intervention(s): Intrauterine insemination (IUI), in vitro fertilization (IVF), or intracytoplasmic injection (ICSI) performed after washed semen viral testing.

Main outcome measure(s): Pregnancy rates per cycle, cumulative pregnancy, abortion rate, and HIV seroconversion in newborns or women.

Result(s): Of the 658 abstracts retrieved, 41 were selected for review, and 17 full articles were included (3,900 IUI cycles in 1,184 couples in 11 aggregated studies and 738 ICSI/IVF cycles in 579 couples across 10 studies). The IUI and ICSI results were, respectively: pregnancy rates per cycle, 18% and 38.1%; cumulative pregnancy, 50% and 52.9%; and abortion rate, 15.6% and 20.6%. No seroconversions in women or newborns were detectable at birth or after 3 to 6 months.

Conclusion(s): Cumulative evidence suggests that ART is safe and effective for avoiding horizontal and vertical transmission in HIV serodiscordant couples.