What if I am negative and my partner is living with HIV?

If a person is negative and their partner is living with HIV, there is no risk of perinatal transmission to the baby. However, pregnant people are at an increased risk for contracting HIV, and a person who acquires HIV while pregnant has a greater chance of transmitting the virus to their baby. People without HIV who have sex partners living with HIV should seek counseling on the multiple measures that can be taken to prevent contracting HIV, including ensuring their partner treats their virus with pills, taking pills called pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), and consistently using condoms with each episode of intercourse. Because of the ongoing risk of HIV, all pregnant people in Illinois are required to be counseled and offered an HIV test both at the initial prenatal visit and again in the third trimester of pregnancy.