Glossary 

AIDS: Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. AIDS is 

caused by infection with the human immunodeficiency 

virus. Having AIDS increases the risk of getting certain 

infections and cancers. 

HIV: Human immunodeficiency virus. This virus 

weakens the immune system. Some people develop 

AIDS as a result of their HIV infection. 

Immune system: This is the body's defense system 

against infection and disease. It is made up of a 

number of organs and cells. 

Get tested for HIV 
 

before your baby is born. 
 

Even if a mother has HIV, 
 

her baby doesn't have to. 
 

TO LEARN MORE 

If you would like to learn more about HIV
 


testing, visit the National HIV Testing Resources
 


Web site at http://www.hivtest.org. 
 

You also can contact CDC-INFO 
 

by e-mail at cdcinfo@cdc.gov or by phone
 


at 1-800-CDC-INFO (232-4636) in English, 
 

en Español, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 
 

The number for callers with TTY equipment 
 

is 1-888-232-6348. 
 

Your call is free and private.
 


Printed in the USA. May 2008. 
good care of yourself—and do everything you can to 

protect the new life growing inside of you. These 

days, that includes getting tested for HIV as early as 

possible in your pregnancy. 

What is HIV? How does it spread? 

HIV is the human immunodeficiency virus, the virus 

that causes AIDS. HIV weakens the immune system, 

which is the body's defense against disease. 

HIV spreads through body fluids such as blood, 

semen, and vaginal fluid. It can be passed by having 

sex without a condom or by sharing needles with a 

person with HIV. And most important for you to know

now, HIV can also be passed from a mother with the 

virus to her baby. 

HIV can be passed from 


a mother with the virus to her baby. 


Why is HIV testing so important for pregnant 

women? 

Important reasons to know if you have HIV: 

• A woman can pass HIV to her baby during 

pregnancy, during labor, or through breastfeeding. 

• If a pregnant woman's infection is found before she 

gives birth, doctors can treat her with drugs that fight 

HIV. These drugs can greatly reduce the risk of her 

baby being infected with HIV. 

Women with HIV who start treatment early 

and maintain it throughout their pregnancy 

very rarely pass HIV to their babies. 

How is the HIV test done? 

Nearly all pregnant women today get an HIV test as 

part of their prenatal care. Usually blood is drawn to 

test for HIV. Blood can be drawn for other prenatal 

tests at the same time. It takes a few weeks to get the 

results unless a rapid test is given. 

What can a pregnant woman with HIV do to 

protect her health and her baby? 

If a pregnant woman has HIV, she can take action to 

protect her health and her baby. Drugs are now 

available that can improve the woman's health, 

prolong her life, and help prevent her baby from 

getting HIV. 

A woman with HIV may have surgery (cesarean or 

“C” section) to help protect her baby from the 

disease. A doctor or nurse can talk with her about 

this option. 

It's important to remember that HIV can pass through 

breast milk. So if a woman has HIV, she should not 

breastfeed. 

Out of 50 pregnant women with HIV, the 

risk of passing HIV to their babies is about: 

• When women begin treatment during pregnancy 

(1 baby out of 50) 

• When women begin treatment during labor, or 

their babies get treatment soon after birth, or 

they both get treatment at these times 

(5 babies out of 50) 

• When women do not get treatment 

(13 babies out of 50)