HIV and Cervical Cancer

Is HIV linked to cervical cancer? ….Mathias

Response from Dr. Brondi Luciana:

HIV positive women do tend to have an increased risk of cervical carcinoma. One of the reasons is because they tend to have more HPV (human papilloma virus) infection and their HPV infection is harder to treat due to their weakened immune response. HPV is one of the risk factors for cervical cancer. If HIV positive women develop premalignant lesions in the cervix, they tend to be more aggressive as well (develop quicker into cancer). Therefore, HIV positive women should be screened more frequently for cervical cancer and if any changes are detected they should be treated as quickly as possible. Cervical cancer can usually be treated and many times cured depending on the stage of cancer.

Mother to child transmission of HIV/AIDS

How can a mother who has AIDS give birth to a baby who is virus free?

Response from Dr. Brondi Luciana:

Most HIV-infected women give birth to HIV-negative babies. Transmission can occur when the mother’s infected body fluid (blood, mucus or breast milk) contacts a mucous membrane or broken skin of the baby. The chances of transmitting HIV to the child will vary depending on different factors, including breastfeeding (increases the chances of transmission). In developing countries the chance of transmitting the virus to the child can be over 40%. In developed countries, with all the resources available, the transmission of HIV from mother to child is very low (around 2%).

Before birth, HIV can transmitted from mother to fetus through the placenta (a thin barrier of cells that feeds and the baby during pregnancy) and also during delivery. During delivery, HIV can be transmitted to the baby through its mucous membranes (lining) of the mouth and gastrointestinal tract. The risk of HIV transmission is higher if the babies are delivered vaginally, if forceps is used (it can break the baby skin and make it easier for the transmission), if the mothers’s bag of membranes around the fetus (commonly known as “waters”) break too early or is inflamed and if the baby is delivered before the full term of pregnancy. The use of Antiretroviral Treatment can also prevent the transmission of HIV to the baby.

Response from Parkhurst Justin (D.Phil):

Actually, most of the time when a mother has HIV, the baby will not have it. About 1 in 3 children born to mothers with HIV will have the virus – which means 2 out of 3 will not.

However, 1 in 3 is still very high. But there are also drugs the mother can take which will help protect the baby even more. By taking the right drugs at the right time, it is possible to lower the chance that the child will have HIV. It is very important that a mother with HIV talks to a professional health provider about this; so they can advise her on where to get the right medication to protect the baby.