The world’s first HIV-positive sperm bank has launched in New Zealand on Wednesday and within a span of hours, has registered three donors.
Launched four days ahead of World Aids Day on Sunday, the organizers of the online sperm bank —the New Zealand AIDS Foundation and Positive Women and Body Positive — stated that they hope to “reduce the stigma and discrimination that people living with HIV still experience in many areas of their lives,” on their website .
Their three donors, while HIV-positive, have a “consistently undetectable viral load” reports Radio New Zealand, meaning that the amount of the virus in a person’s blood is so low that, with treatment, it cannot be passed on — even through condomless sex or childbirth.
“There is no evidence that individuals who have successfully achieved and maintained viral suppression through ART transmit the virus sexually to their HIV-negative partner(s),” states the World Health Organization (WHO).
One of the donors, Damien Rule-Neal told the Guardian that he was diagnosed with HIV in 1999 but was confirmed undetectable after starting treatment around 18 years ago. “Being able to help others on their journey is so rewarding, but I also want to show the world that life doesn’t just stop post-diagnosis and help to remove the stigma,” he said.
He added that there was still a lack of awareness about what it means to live with an undetectable level of HIV and that he has experienced stigma in both his professional and personal life. “I have many friends who are also living with HIV who’ve gone on to have children.”
The website includes a blurb by a single mother, Mel, living with HIV. While she is HIV-positive, her children have not been affected. However, she says she still experiences stigma, especially in her social life. “Since becoming a solo mum, HIV has become more of an issue for me. When I meet potential partners, I never know how they’ll react,” Mel is quoted saying.
The sperm bank stated that while they will store donations, they do not offer any services related to facilitating a pregnancy. Instead they will help interested recipients to find a donor, and subsequently put both donor and recipient in touch with a fertility clinic to manage the next steps of the process.
Copyright Postmedia Network Inc., 2019
