Q: I am HIV positive and have been married for 6 years. I am taking Nevirapine. I want to have a baby. Is there any medication to prevent mother to child transmission?

A:I do hope that you are on more than just one medicine. Nevirapine is a good, effective medicine, but the treatment of HIV demands treatment with more than just one medicine. Ask your doctor. Never have just one medicine for routine treatment, and it is best to start treatment with antiretrovirals only when the immune system is sufficiently damaged and the CD4 cell count is below 200. Therapy with Nevirapine only is one of the ways to prevent HIV infection in the newborn child. It cuts the risk of infection to the child but does not eliminate the possibility of infection. If you have the time and can afford the medication, a longer term treatment with a combination of drugs (HAART) is more effective.