What is sperm washing?

Sperm washing is a process that has been designed for couples who want to have a child, where the man is HIV-positive and the woman is HIV-negative. The procedure allows conception to take place with the man's sperm, while reducing the risk of HIV transmission to the female partner and subsequently to the unborn child.

The procedure is based on the premise that HIV-infected material is carried primarily in the seminal fluid, rather than in the sperm cells. The technique involves separating sperm from seminal fluid and using the 'washed' sperm to inseminate the woman.

This content was checked for accuracy at the time it was written. It may have been superseded by more recent developments. NAM recommends checking whether this is the most current information when making decisions that may affect your health.