Study Reveals Ineffectiveness of Current Anti-Viral Therapies in Eliminating HIV in Semen

A recent study on CMV (Cytomegalovirus) and HIV in semen testing during the COVID-19 emergency era has revealed that current anti-viral therapies do not eliminate HIV in the semen of HIV-infected men. This finding is significant for couples with infectious disease infertility who pursued assisted reproductive technologies (ART) during the pandemic lockdown from April 2020 to March 2022.

The study included 156 HIV-infected men from 12 countries who underwent semen testing for fertility procedures. During this period, 82 gestational carriers and wives underwent embryo transfer without infection, leading to 32 reported pregnancies from nine fertility clinics and the birth of 43 babies.

This revelation underscores the need for improved anti-viral treatments to ensure the safety and effectiveness of ART for HIV-infected individuals. The findings are critical for reproductive health professionals and policymakers as they highlight gaps in current medical protocols and the necessity for continuous research and development in this field.

The Bedford Research Foundation (BRF), which conducted the study, is a biomedical institute focused on stem cell and related research for diseases currently deemed incurable. Their research spans several areas, including patient-specific stem cells for HIV and spinal cord injury therapies, circadian rhythms in embryo development, and prostate cancer screening.

BRF also organizes educational events like the Activated Egg Symposium and the Spinal Cord Workshop, which facilitate information sharing among researchers and clinicians. Additionally, BRF offers laboratory products and services such as the Special Program of Assisted Reproduction (SPAR) that combines HIV semen testing and sperm washing for safe procreation, as well as mail-in test kits for infertility and other conditions.

The study's implications extend beyond reproductive health, affecting broader public health policies and the approach to managing infectious diseases. With most of their research unfunded federally due to the U.S. moratorium on research funding for activated human eggs, BRF's contributions are crucial in the ongoing effort to address these complex health challenges.

The full article is available here.