Taking Truvada (tenofovir/emtricitabine) as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) until shortly after conception of a child appears safe, Medscape reports. Publishing their findings in the Journal of the American Medical Association, researchers from the Partners PrEP Study examined PrEP’s effects on 431 pregnancies that occurred during the study. Partners PrEP included 1,785 heterosexual couples in which the female partner was HIV negative and the male partner was HIV positive, and ran between July 2008 and June 2013 in Kenya and Uganda.

The women in the trial were randomized to receive either daily tenofovir (598 participants), Truvada (566 participants) or a placebo (621 participants). In 2011, PrEP showed efficacy as HIV prevention, so the women in the placebo arm were re-randomized to receive either tenofovir or Truvada. The women were tested for pregnancy monthly, and stopped taking the study drug in the event of a positive test.

Between the three groups, there was no statistically significant difference in the rate of pregnancy or miscarriage, or in birth outcomes or infant growth. However, considering how quickly after conception PrEP was discontinued, this study cannot make definitive statements about the safety of PrEP in the period surrounding conception.

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To read the study abstract, click here.