WHAT TESTS ARE USUALLY DONE DURING PREGNANCY?
Doctors recommend testing for hepatitis B, rubella (German measles), syphilis and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Each of these infections could hurt the baby if they are not treated.
DO I HAVE TO HAVE THESE TESTS?
These tests are offered to you for the health of your baby. However, you can choose whether you want to be tested.
I ALREADY HAD A BLOOD TEST. WOULDN'T IT HAVE BEEN TESTED FOR HIV?
Blood can be tested for many things. It would only be tested for HIV if you gave your permission. If your doctor did not discuss HIV testing with you, it probably wasn't done. So you should be tested for HIV during this pregnancy. Even if you had an HIV test once before and it was negative, you should have the test done again during each pregnancy.
HOW COULD I HAVE GOTTEN HIV?
HIV is passed from one person to another:
through sexual intercourse (without a condom or if the condom breaks);
through blood (for example, sharing needles or syringes); or
from mother to baby. Most women have been infected through sexual intercourse. Many of these women did not know their partner was HIV-positive.
HOW IS THE HIV TEST DONE?
It is a blood test that can be ordered at the same time as your other prenatal tests.
I'M THINKING ABOUT HAVING A BABY. SHOULD I HAVE A TEST FOR HIV?
Yes, you and your partner may both want to be tested for HIV. The results will give you information that may affect your decisions about having a baby.
WHY SHOULD I HAVE AN HIV TEST DURING PREGNANCY?
If you are pregnant and infected with HIV, there's treatment that will improve your health and reduce the chance that the virus passes from you to your baby. Without treatment, one in four babies will get HIV infection from their mother. With treatment, the chance of infection is as low as one in 100.
WHAT ARE THE DISADVANTAGES TO BEING TESTED FOR HIV?
The decision to take the test and then waiting for the results can be very stressful. If your test results are HIV-positive, you will have many decisions to make. Even though it is a stressful time, you need this information to decide what is best for you and your family.
WHERE CAN I FIND MORE INFORMATION ON HIV AND PREGNANCY?
Call your doctor, local public health unit (or CLSC in the province of Quebec) or one of the clinics listed below. You can also find information on Web sites, such as the ones listed on the next page.
Resources for pregnant women with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)*
| National | |
| Motherisk HIV Healthline – an HIV counsellor answers questions on HIV and pregnancy from women or care providers | 1-888-246-5840, <www.motherisk.org> |
| Positive Women's Network – based in Vancouver, British Columbia, it is an agency providing support, information, community education and advocacy for women with HIV | 1-604-692-3000, 1-866-692-3001 |
| Voices of Positive Women – Toronto, Ontario agency providing support, information and advocacy for women with HIV | 1-416-324-8703, <www.webhome.idirect.com/~vopw> |
| Canadian AIDS Society – includes a list of AIDS Service organizations across Canada. To access, under “contacts” choose “members” | <www.cdnaids.ca> |
| Canadian HIV/AIDS Clearinghouse – provides information on HIV/AIDS prevention | <www.clearinghouse.cpha.ca> (bilingual) |
| Community AIDS Treatment Information Exchange (CATIE) – based in Canada, provides up-to-date information, including a toll-free telephone line with confidential counselling and access to resources | <www.catie.ca> (bilingual) |
| HIV/AIDS Treatment Information Service – based in the United States, provides information on American treatment guidelines for HIV and AIDS | <www.hivatis.org> |
| Managing Your Health, 1999. This publication is jointly produced by CATIE and the Toronto People with AIDS foundation, and contains an extensive list of telephone numbers of AIDS resources across Canada | To order free copies (English or French) contact: Canadian HIV Clearinghouse, 400-1565 Carling Avenue, Ottawa, Ontario K1Z 8R1, 1-613-725-3434 |
| Oak Tree Clinic – Vancouver HIV clinic for women and children | 1-604-875-2212, <www.cw.bc.ca/bcw/oak_tree.asp> |
| St Justine's HIV Clinic – Montreal, Quebec HIV clinic for women and children | 1-514-345-4836, <www.hsj.qc.ca> |
| The Hospital for Sick Children's HIV Clinic – Toronto clinic for children and families with HIV program | 1-416-813-6268, <www.sickkids.on.ca> |
| National HIV/AIDS Network for Children, Youth and Families | <www.resnat.ca/e/resources_clinics.html> |
| Le réseau national VIH/SIDA pour les Enfants, Jeunes, et Familles | <www.resnat.ca/f/ressources_cliniques.html> |
| Project Inform – an American HIV/AIDS Treatment Information Service for people living with HIV/AIDS | 1-800-833-7422 |
| British Columbia Persons with AIDS Society | 1-604-681-2122, <www.bcpwa.org> |
| The Centre for AIDS Services of Montreal (Women) – based in Quebec, Montreal link to AIDS services for women | <www.netrover.com/~casm> (bilingual) |
| The Teresa Group Child and Family Aid – based in Ontario, Toronto link to AIDS services for women and children. The Teresa Group is a contact agency for Ontario's free formula program | 1-416-596-7703, <www.teresagroup.org> |
| Provincial hotlines and major AIDS organizations | |
| Alberta AIDS Information Line | 1-800-772-2437 |
| British Columbia AIDS Information Line | 1-800-661-4337 |
| Manitoba AIDS Information Line | 1-800-782-2437 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador AIDS Committee Hotline | 1-800-563-1575 |
| New Brunswick AIDS Hotline | 1-800-561-4009 |
| Northwest Territories AIDS Information Line | 1-800-661-0795 |
| AIDS Coalition of Nova Scotia | 1-800-566-2437 |
| AIDS PEI | 1-800-314-2437 |
| Ontario AIDS Information Line | 1-800-668-2437 |
| Quebec AIDS Information Line | 1-800-463-5656 |
| Saskatchewan AIDS Information Line | 1-800-667-6876 |
| Yukon AIDS information Line | 1-800-661-0507 |
This is not an exhaustive list of available resources. AIDS Acquired immune deficiency syndrome
Internet addresses are current at the time of publication.