Filter sperm to give birth to people with HIV

'This method can eliminate HIV virus in sperm and toxins in the sperm' - Dr. Nguyen Viet Tien, Director of Central Obstetrics Hospital, affirmed - 'But we are not sure to be 100% effective. .

The director of the Central Obstetrics Hospital said the hospital has mastered sperm filtering techniques but he recommends that it should not be applied to people with HIV / AIDS.

According to Dr. Tien, if HIV virus exists in the sperm cell itself, not the sperm, the washing is useless.

(Photo: TP) Recently, some people with HIV came to the Hospital to learn and apply sperm filtering techniques.

According to Mr. Le Nhan Tuan, Director of the Center for HIV / AIDS Prevention and Control, Hanoi, during the Thai mission earlier this year, he found that Thailand has successfully applied this technique to some people with HIV. . 'But the cost is very expensive and success depends on many factors' - Tuan said.

Mr. N, an HIV-infected person, married but never thought he could have a baby. Through a few friends, he learned that the Central Obstetrics Hospital is conducting sperm filter method. This information makes the couple N extremely hopeful.

'I am like many other men, wishing to have a happy family, with a sound of children playing,' - Mr. N said. However, when he knew that he could face the risk of failure, he was determined to pursue it. "I take risks," said Mr. N.

'Some of my friends intend to go abroad to implement this method because they do not know that the country can do it. They said if they were not approved by the doctor, they would give birth by natural methods, "said Mr. N.

Despite many obstacles and always facing risks, HIV-infected people like Mr. N still consider sperm filtering as a great source of hope.

Still doing if required to do so

Dr. Tien admits that this method has not yet confirmed the absolute effectiveness, even in developed countries. That is the reason why the Central Obstetrics Hospital has not received sperm filtering for people with HIV.

'We advocate when there is a request from HIV-infected people who will advise them not to do it because if the child is born still infected, adults will be very regretful' - Dr. Tien confided.

However, with the case of determination and risk-tolerance such as Mr. and Mrs. N's couple, Dr. Tien said the Hospital will not refuse. 'We will accept to limit high risks when they are determined to give birth by natural methods' - Dr Tien said.

But he warned, even if the Hospital accepted to do it, it was necessary to ensure that the wife was not HIV-infected and the couple used condoms during all sexual intercourse.

Sperm filter is a method to clean sperm before pumping into the uterus or test tube. Sperm is added to an existing chemical (also a sperm culture medium) and then put into a centrifuge.

The centrifugal force will separate the healthy sperm on one side, the dead, weak, malformed and spermatozoa on the other side. The HIV virus, if present in the sperm, will also be removed from the sperm.

My Hang