The ABCs Of Surrogacy: Episode 32: Expanding Reproductive Health Options for HIV-Affected Individuals: It's Time

More than 1.1 million people are infected with HIV, and there are about 50,000 new cases each year annually in the United States, according to the CDC. In this episode of "ABCs of Surrogacy," we are pleased to have several experts discussing options now available for HIV-Affected individuals. Shannon Weber, MSW, the coordinator of the Bay Area Perinatal Aids Center (BPAC) at the University of California, San Francisco Division of HIV/AIDS, Department of Medicine and Director of the National Perinatal HIV Hoteline, and Dr. Pat Garcia, MD/MPH, Professor in Obstetrics and Gynecology-Maternal Field Medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and whose interest is in HIV and AIDS, will be joined by two HIV+ patients, who will be discussing the barriers they encountered during their quest for fertility services and parenthood. Due to revolutionary technology family building options, parenting is now a viable option for everyone, including those who are HIV+, without any transmission to either baby or carrier of the pregnancy. Don't miss this very informative 1-hour episode on this week's "ABCs of Surrogacy!”

About Shannon Weber
Shannon Weber, MSW is the Director of UCSF's National Perinatal HIV Hotline, a free 24/7, expert consultation service. She also coordinates the Bay Area Perinatal AIDS Center (BAPAC), a San Francisco General Hospital program providing preconception and prenatal care to HIV-affected individuals. Shannon launched the PRO Men (Positive Reproductive Outcomes for HIV+ Men) initiative, an innovative collaboration between BAPAC and SFGH’s Ward 86 HIV Clinic integrating men’s reproductive and sexual health care into a primary care setting.

About Caroline Watson
Caroline Watson is an outreach volunteer for the Bay Area Perinatal AIDS Center (BAPAC) which provides care to HIV-positive pregnant women and HIV-affected couples. She also works with the PRO Men (Positive Reproductive Outcomes for HIV+ Men) initiative which supports HIV+ men in their desires to date, have sex, & have families. She participated in & reviewed three professionally filmed PRO Men videos. She attended a postpartum doula workshop with DONA certified trainer Ann Grauer & is working on her certification. Caroline has shared her story of staying negative in a serodiscordant marriage & having a baby in a front-page San Francisco Chronicle story, on KQED (SF’s NPR affiliate), in front of hundreds at provider events, & at the Northern California Service League (a transition from incarceration program). She co-hosted the PRO Men HIV Virtual Townhall on Google Hangouts. She is also a member of the CDC’s Expert Panel On Reproductive Health and Preconception Care.