The public ’s first - ever HIV positive sperm bank is accepting donations in New Zealand .
The task , calledSperm Positive , has launched with male donors who are living with HIV but have anundetectable viral load . This means they have obtain antiretroviral treatment and the story of HIV in their blood is so low it can not be observe through blood test .
Although they are technically still HIV - overconfident , theycannot convey the virusto sexual partners or children via their spermatozoon .
“ An HIV positive sperm bank is perfectly secure , ” Dr Mark Thomas , an infectious disease physician at the University of Auckland , explains on the project’swebsite .
” An HIV affected role who is on discussion and has an undetectable viral load has no computer virus in their blood or genital secretion , include their sperm , and ca n’t pass the infection to anyone else . “
As Sperm Positive describes it : “ They can give you their eyes , their pilus , their cheeky laugh . But they ca n’t give you HIV . ”
The online sperm bank will in effect ferment as a mates - make service to pair up donors and prospective recipient role . It ’s worth highlighting that it will be made explicitly clear that the presenter have HIV , but have an insensible viral load thanks to ongoing treatment .
" I want people to get it on life does n’t block after being diagnose with HIV and that it is safe to have children if you ’re on treatment , " Damien Rule - Neal , one of the first three donors to bless up to the scheme , tell theNew Zealand Herald .
The initiative was launched just ahead of World AIDS Day ( December 1 ) by the New Zealand Aids Foundation , Positive Women Inc , and Body Positive , in hopes of breaking down much of the stigma that surrounds this misunderstood term . They also wish well to provide people living with HIV with the same chance and timbre of life as those without the infection .
“ I have it off a caboodle of man living with HIV who would make expectant fathers , ” tell Dr Thomas . “ I conceive an HIV positive spermatozoan banking concern is a large idea because it open up it up to everyone , include mass with HIV , the joys of being a parent . "
consort to theWorld Health Organization , around 37.9 million multitude were live with HIV at the end of 2018 , over two - thirds of whom live in Africa .
HIV(an abbreviation for human immunodeficiency virus ) aggress the immune system , making the body more susceptible to infection and some types of cancer . There is no cure for HIV contagion . However , as this task shows , effective antiretroviral drug can control the virus and assist to preclude transmission to other people , allowing many people living with the infection to know longsighted and happy lives .
