Effectiveness of semen washing to prevent human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission and assist pregnancy in HIV-discordant couples: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

A systemic review and meta-analysis by Zafar M et al in a forthcoming edition of journal ‘Fertility and Sterility’ evaluated the effectiveness of semen washing in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)–discordant couples in which the male partner is infected.

Primary outcome: HIV transmission to HIV-uninfected women.

Secondary outcomes: HIV transmission to newborns and proportion of couples achieving a clinical pregnancy.

Conclusion:

•  It was seen that No HIV transmission occurred in cycles of assisted reproduction with the use of washed semen.
• Among the subset of HIV-infected men without plasma viral suppression at the time of semenwashing, no HIV seroconversions occurred among after cycles of assisted reproduction with the use of washed semen.
•  Studies that measured HIV transmission to infants reported no cases of vertical transmission.
• Overall, 56.3% of couples achieved a clinical pregnancy with the use of washed semen.
• The study results are especially useful in low-income countries, especially those with a large burden of HIV. Integration of semen washing into HIV prevention interventions could help to further reduce the spread of HIV