Living with HIV — and donating sperm
Donor wants to do something positive with his diagnosis in bid to remove stigma
Today New Zealand opens the world’s first HIV-positive sperm bank in a bid to remove the stigma experienced by those living with the virus. It comes ahead of World Aids Day on Sunday.
Damien Rule-Neal is one of the first three donors to give sperm to the online clinic, called Sperm Positive.
“I want people to know life doesn’t stop after being diagnosed with HIV and that it is safe to have children if you’re on treatment,” he said.
The now 47-year-old discovered he was HIV positive 20 years ago but it was confirmed undetected shortly after he began treatment.
This means he’s been unable to transmit the virus to others for 18 years.
He says the lack of understanding from the general public has been a constant battle. “I’ve experienced a lot of stigma living with HIV, both at work and in my personal life, that has come from people being misinformed about the virus.
“I received a promotion two years after being in my job and decided to tell my boss I had HIV but it backfired and I was let go.
“HR got involved and I eventually came back but I couldn’t handle the bullying. I had people call me dirty, which I can’t stand, and others who
wouldn’t even shake my hand so I left.” Now he’s turning a corner.
“I want to do something positive with my diagnosis. I had kids before I was diagnosed, now I want to give others that opportunity .”
Sperm Positive is working with several fertility clinics who will act as the middle-person between the donor and patients. It will be made clear to people seeking a donor that Sperm Positive donors have HIV but are on treatment and have the blood tests to show their virus is undetectable.
Auckland District Health Board infectious diseases physician Mark Thomas, who has been working with people living with HIV for more than 30 years, said more than a decade ago the World Health Organisation confirmed HIV treatment prevented transmission, even through sex without a condom and childbirth.
“This was life-changing for many people living with HIV, but due to the negative stigma, it’s still not widely understood — even among doctors.”
Hastings mum-of-two Melinda Susanto is living proof of the effectiveness of taking treatment.
She was diagnosed in 2006 and since then has had two healthy and happy children.
“At the time of my diagnosis, their dad was tested and found to be negative, he remains negative, and it took us four years to make the informed choice to have children, knowing they would be fine.
“My son was conceived via an artificial insemination, as was recommended at the time, but my daughter was conceived naturally.
“The fact that medication means I cannot pass the virus to others has been a game changer.
“However, what remains constant is the discrimination, stereotypes and lack of education,” Susanto said.
“For me, this is the hardest barrier and struggle I have to face.”