HIV/AIDS Glossary

Ongoing education, care, and treatment to improve the health of a woman before pregnancy. Preconception counseling and care involves identifying and managing conditions and behaviors that could lead to poor outcomes for the woman or her child. For women with HIV, preconception care includes counseling on the risks and benefits of antiretroviral (ARV) drugs to prevent perinatal transmission of HIV and to protect the women’s health. Preconception counseling may include advising a male partner with HIV on how to prevent HIV transmission to a female partner before and during pregnancy.