The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that all people get tested for HIV before they become pregnant and as early as possible during each pregnancy and in the third trimester. The earlier HIV is detected, the sooner HIV medicines can be started.

All people who are pregnant or trying to get pregnant should encourage their partners also to get tested for HIV and, if possible, screened for other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). STIs can increase the amount of HIV in the body (viral load) in people with HIV. If any partner has HIV, that partner should take HIV medicine as prescribed to stay healthy and prevent transmission.