Biktarvy is a brand-name oral tablet prescribed to help treat HIV-1. It contains three active ingredients: bictegravir sodium, emtricitabine, and tenofovir alafenamide. It is not known whether Biktarvy is safe to take during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Keep reading for specific information about reproductive health and Biktarvy. For an in-depth look at Biktarvy, see this article.
Biktarvy may be safe to take during pregnancy in certain people. If you have questions about whether you can take Bikarvy while pregnant, talk with your doctor.
Current guidelines recommend that all pregnant females* with HIV take antiretrovirals (drugs to treat HIV). According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), if you receive HIV treatment early in your pregnancy, the risk of the virus passing to a developing fetus can be 1% or less.
If you have HIV and you’re pregnant or planning to become pregnant, talk with your doctor about your treatment as soon as possible. It’s important to discuss the possible risks and benefits of antiretroviral treatments like Biktarvy. This can help you decide about HIV treatment during your pregnancy.
* Sex and gender exist on spectrums. Use of the term “female” in this article refers to sex assigned at birth.
Pregnancy registry
If you do take Biktarvy during pregnancy, your doctor will encourage you to sign up for the Antiretroviral Pregnancy Registry. This registry monitors and records the health of infants born to people who took antiretroviral drugs, such as Biktarvy, during pregnancy.
The registry helps healthcare professionals collect information about the safety of drugs like Biktarvy. This can help people make informed decisions about the treatments they take while pregnant.
You can learn more on the registry’s website, and enroll by calling 800-258-4263. You can also talk with your doctor about enrolling.
It’s not known whether it’s safe to breastfeed while taking Biktarvy.
Emtricitabine, one of the active drugs in Biktarvy, can pass into breast milk. This could cause side effects in a child who is breastfed. Taking Biktarvy while breastfeeding could also lead to viral resistance in the breastfed child if they have HIV. Viral resistance involves the virus developing small changes that make it less sensitive to a particular drug.
It’s not known whether the other active drugs in Biktarvy pass into breast milk.
Additionally, the CDC recommends that people living in the United States who have HIV should not breastfeed a child. This is because the virus can pass into breast milk and then to the child. Even if your viral load is undetectable on lab tests while you’re taking Biktarvy, there would still be a risk of HIV passing to a breastfed child.
If you have HIV, talk with your doctor about the best way to feed your child.
It’s not known whether Biktarvy is safe to take during pregnancy. If you’re sexually active and you or your partner can become pregnant, talk with your doctor about your birth control needs while you’re taking Biktarvy.
For more information about Biktarvy and birth control, talk with your doctor.
Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.