MAY 25 . 2002 • Q-NOTES Paternity Hope for Men with HIV by datalounge.com 17 Dr. Mark Sauer NEW YORK, NY — The New York Times reported that with the advent of new fertility methods, men infected with HIV may no longer have to give up on the dream of fathering children. In Feb ruary, the ethics com- m i t t e e serving the American Society for Reproduc tive Med icine voted to remove HIV-related prohibitions on the delivery of fertility services. New techniques that separate semen from the seminal fluid carrying HIV gives new hope to thousands of would-be gay dads who thought the possibility of fathering a biological child with a willing female would remain forever closed to them. The obstacles remain formidable, however. The Times notes that several states — including California, Florida and Illinois — still prevent doctors from using HIV infected semen for artificial insemination. The Times says that helping men with HIV have children is one of the last taboos for fertility specialists, who now routinely offer services to patients with advanced cancer, gay men who use surrogate mothers, single women who pick sperm donors from catalogs and women well past menopause. While no statistics indicate how many of the nation’s nearly 400 fertility clinics offer services to men with HIV, anecdotal evidence suggests the number is very small, perhaps only a handful. Complicating matters, most of these clinics tend to shun publicity out of concern they will scare away other couples. Clinics say new techniques can minimize the risk of transmission from an infected man to an uninfected woman, but too few case studies have been documented to give professionals an idea of the risk. Treating women with HIV is more controversial still, because an infected woman is much more likely to pass the virus to her baby. Dr. Mark Sauer of Columbia University says most of these risks can be minimized. He said he decided several years ago that the risk of transmitting the virus through the use of infected sperm could be greatly reduced by using a technique called “intracytoplasmic sperm injection,” injecting a single sperm into an egg. Dr. Sauer said his clinic had treated 54 infected men. So far, 29 women have become pregnant and have had their babies or are more than halfway through pregnancy. Thirty babies have been born, with nearly half the women having twins, as is typical in fertility treatment. He also noted that European methods in wider use have resulted in 250 successful pregnancies with no viral transmission. "I know a lot of HIV-positive people,” Dr. Sauer told The Times. “They are feeling well, they are doing well. Of course, a lot of them would want kids.” info: www.columbia.edu TOUGH from page 15 The Pride Alliance, Falco said, offers support groups for assaulted LGBT students, as well as an introduction at each freshman orientation to help students adjust to campus life and teach them to tolerate each other. LGBT Equity also tries to work with students who have been attacked or harassed, and they try to make sure the university is addressing LGBT issues, said Jensen. The group is also working to create an undergraduate degree program in LGBT studies. Falco said LGBT students on the campus must learn to be strong in facing living arrangement problems. Helping you with.., accepting yourself • moving you forv/ard conquering feois • breaking old patterns anxiety • breaking up • safe sex learning to love • illness/death family matters • couples skills individuals — Couples Relationship Seminars ' Vs ^ ' "Being gay and in an 12-year relationship helps me to understand the unique needs of Ed.S. LGBT individuals and couples." 60-minute session. ruce@aol.com Evening appointments available. ‘ HOURS: 5 pm - 2 am “ Six Days a Week Sunday - 3 pm - 2 am SPECIALS: Monday $5 All You Can Drink Beer Tuesday $1.50 Domestic Beer • $2 House Drinks Wednesday Pool Tournament • No Entry Fee • $50 to the Winner Thursday $1 Domestic Beer Sunday $2 House Drinks • Free Buffet at 6:30 pm also featuring our Snaxx Cafe with appetizers & sandwiches The Woodshed 4000 S. 1-85 Service Rd. Charlotte, NC 704.394.1712 OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK 1 i° 8 Tuckaseegee Rd. TJ cc c 0 v> cc « 1 1 The Woodshed ▼ 1-85 Service Rd. ^ E Q flj g \ 1-85 W \\ X. ■