Truvada (emtricitabine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate) may be safe to take while pregnant. Whether you breastfeed while taking Truvada depends on whether you’re taking it to treat or help prevent HIV.
It may be safe to take Truvada during pregnancy if your doctor recommends it. According to certain studies, taking Truvada during pregnancy doesn’t increase the risk of congenital anomalies (commonly known as birth defects). And it’s not known whether Truvada increases the risk of pregnancy loss.
If you’re taking Truvada to help prevent HIV and have a high risk of getting HIV, be sure you continue taking the drug during pregnancy. This is because if you do get HIV, there’s a potential of transmitting it to your child during pregnancy. Your doctor can explain the best way to help prevent HIV transmission during pregnancy.
If you’re pregnant or planning to become pregnant, talk with your doctor before taking Truvada. A pregnancy registry called the Antiretroviral Pregnancy Registry (APR) is also available for the drug. This registry monitors outcomes in people and children exposed to Truvada during pregnancy. For more information or to register, call 800-258-4263 or see the program website. You can also talk with your doctor.
If you become pregnant while taking Truvada, talk with your doctor right away.
Whether you breastfeed depends on why you’re taking Truvada, your risk of getting HIV if you test negative for it, and your doctor’s recommendations.
If you’re taking Truvada to treat HIV, your doctor will likely recommend you avoid breastfeeding. This is due to the potential of HIV being transmitted to your child through breast milk.
If you’re taking Truvada to help prevent HIV, you and your doctor will weigh the risks and benefits of taking the drug while breastfeeding. If your doctor recommends you breastfeed while taking Truvada for this purpose, be sure that you continue taking the drug to help prevent HIV. However, if you or your doctor suspect that you have HIV, you should not breastfeed. This is to help prevent HIV from possibly being transmitted to your child.
The active ingredients in Truvada, emtricitabine and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate, can pass into breast milk. However, it’s not known whether this affects milk production or has effects on a child who is breastfed.
If you have questions about breastfeeding while taking Truvada, talk with your doctor.
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