Some of you scientific-minded folks, help me with this question, please.

Given that the Human Immunodeficiency Virus only survives for a short time outside the body, could a man with HIV safely donate sperm to be used for insemination?

Or would the virus' RNA/DNA survive the freezing process, only to be revived when the donation thawed?

Would the time needed to "kill" the virus at room temp. prior to freezing the donation, also kill the sperm?

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"May those who love us, love us. As for those who don't love us, may God turn their ankles, so we may know them by their limping." -- Ancient Irish proverb

Given the possible consequences of being wrong (about the cold killing the virus), I would assume someone who is HIV+ wouldn't be allowed to be a sperm donor. You could call a local sperm bank or the Red Cross and ask.

Glenn

Cryogenic preservation does not inactivate the HIV virus,.....one could use an inactivating media but it would kill the sperm cells as well as the virus....HIV virus remains viable for several hours (some sources say a few days) even at room temp, by that time the spermatoza would die. NO sperm donor center in the USA accepts 'ejaculate' from HIV positive men...refer to the link below, outlining a method to provide acceptability of HIV+ donors, which is currently in use in parts of Europe, as well as the UK:

http://www.afroaidsinfo.org/content...pects/sperm.htm

My own thoughts: given the high mutation rate of the virus, NO methodology is 100 % safe.

Dana

Great link, Dana. Thanks.

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"May those who love us, love us. As for those who don't love us, may God turn their ankles, so we may know them by their limping." -- Ancient Irish proverb

You are right, Glenn. In the US, HIV+ cannot donate sperm. As you can see in the link Dana provided, the UK and Europe are looking into the possibility.

It was a fleeting thought on a rainy, cold day, nothing more: memories of someone I loved very much, who has passed on, and thoughts of "what if?"

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"May those who love us, love us. As for those who don't love us, may God turn their ankles, so we may know them by their limping." -- Ancient Irish proverb

This is liable to generate a lot of controversy but then I do not shy away from it. I am not a conspiracy person and am of a scientific mindset. Each of us must make our own decisions based on available evidence.

This thread go me thinking of all the dear friends of mine who have died of AIDS (too many). Without exception they were all: long time recreational drug users (especially "poppers"), had repeated exposure to multiple STD's, or were being treated with toxic anti-viral drugs such as AZT.

But after reading some of the work by Dr. Peter Duesberg, Dr. Robert Root-Bernstein and others, I have some serious misgivings about the current belief that HIV=AIDS. So much of what I learned from the mainstream media and through volunteer work didn't quite add up. I am now wondering of the deaths of my friends may have in fact been preventable.

Here are some alternative views worth considering. As always: caveat lector.

http://duesberg.com/
http://rethinking.org/
http://aliveandwell.org/
http://virusmyth.net/

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Cheers,
Meresa

There will be no second-class citizens in this society.
-- Chuck Panozzo

Hi Meresa!
Great links, and thanks for them. I have it from a very reliable source ;) that Duesberg is a little. . .out there, but then most free-thinking geniuses are.

I agree, though, that HIV does NOT have to equal AIDS. It is a virus. Think of influenza where a person goes to bed and rests, vs. a person with "flu" who stays up all night, every night partying, ends up with pneumonia, and dies.

A virus is manageable. We can all agree on that. Once again, each person's health care is in their own hands. I respect my friend with full-blown AIDS who believes that anti-viral meds hasten death. I think so, too.

Sometimes, the cure is worse than the disease...

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"May those who love us, love us. As for those who don't love us, may God turn their ankles, so we may know them by their limping." -- Ancient Irish proverb

Meresa, here's some more:

http://www.mercola.com/2001/sep/5/hiv_aids.htm

http://www.sierratimes.com/03/07/29/blanton.htm

http://pages.prodigy.net/johnhunter2/hivaids.htm

I, too, do not trust the "experts" since at the onset these people were too eager to blame AIDS on gay sexual practices...and later it (AIDS) shows up in heterosexual couples, STD infections/ especially concurrent with Herpes, drug users and people living "on the fringe"...HIV might be associated with AIDS, but as with all things in life, it may not be so simple....even ulcers, at one time, were thought to be from alcohol, stress...then H. Pylori infection...now it seems to be a multi-factor etiology disease. Throughout the history of modern medicine, a lot of disease origins have proven to be something other which eventually contradicted "current medical knowledge".....However: one cannot discount the perceived benign nature of the HIV virus, especially at this time, since it (the virus) has been part of the AIDS syndrome and has a high mutation rate, and may now be a precursor/additive effector to AIDS development.... concurrent with body abuses of drugs, alcohol AND in some people being "treated" with corticosterones ((anti-inflammatories, which some now believe leads to auto-immune disease), methotrexate/cisplatine, etc and cyclosporin ( 2 examples of treatments for cancer and one for organ transplant..which LOWER immunity). So, what I mean to say is perhaps that HIV virus (or other HIV, remember there are 3 types: I, II, and III) AND concurrent existence of one or more of the above drug/disease factors may lead to AIDS OR AIDS-like syndromes/auto-immune diseases.
You see, the current modern medicine outlook bases itself on symptom relief and eradication of infection and NOT considering the WHOLE body system (as well as the mind)...it is the construct of this type of medicine which has lead us all to believe that the origin of SOME disease processes is abnormal, when in fact they result as a normal course of circumstances that stems/results from any number of events which upset and destroy/disrupt the body's (natural state) homeostasis and balance of bio-chemical and neuro-endocrine pathways (catecholamines)...that is where we get such things as metabolic syndrome, type II diabetes, auto-immune diseases (asthma, lupus).digestive disturbances....Anyway, I'm getting "on a roll" with this and better stop here with the statement that I'm a proponent of modern medicine melding with homeopathic and alternative medicine sources...Western medicine does not know all there is to be known about health and disease (however NOT to discount its value, as without it a lot would have died from infections, injuries etc)...why, just a few years ago, the "experts" were telling us as part of the diet and RDA (food pyramid) that breads, meats, dairy products were most important, and NOW that has been proven Unhealthy....fruits and veggies are best)...so much for Spam and Velveeta sandwiches on Wonder bread!)...anyway, I think I've made my point....gotta get back to work....bye.

Dana

Many or most of us with or without HIV are incapable of reproduction, maybe the drive is there but still shooting blanks.

Have things inherited that I would not care to be passing along to another generation anyhow, glad it all ends with me.

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Lou
http://vets.appliedphysics.swri.edu/
loutplei.htm
http://users.mildura.net.au/users/
marshall/powell.htm
http://c22inf.bravepages.com/talley.htm