Experts consider Descovy (emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide) safe to take while pregnant. But avoid breastfeeding a child while taking this medication.
Experts consider Descovy safe to take for HIV treatment during pregnancy. Treatment guidelines recommend that all pregnant people with HIV in the United States receive HIV treatment for their health and the health of the fetus.
However, you should tell your doctor you’re pregnant before starting Descovy. And be sure to tell them if you become pregnant while taking this medication, as they may want to monitor you more closely.
If you take Descovy during pregnancy, consider enrolling in the drug’s pregnancy registry. This Antiretroviral Pregnancy Registry keeps track of reported pregnancy issues with Descovy. (All drugs used to prevent or treat HIV are called antiretrovirals.) Call 800-258-4263 or talk with your doctor if you’d like to enroll in this registry.
Note: Doctors don’t prescribe Descovy as PrEP for females.* See this article to learn why Descovy isn’t FDA approved for PrEP in females.
* In this article, we use the term “female” to refer to someone’s sex assigned at birth. For information, see this article about the difference between sex and gender.
In the United States, doctors
Emtricitabine, one of the active drugs in Descovy, passes into human breast milk. It’s not known whether tenofovir alafenamide, the other active drug in Descovy, does too. It’s also not known whether Descovy affects breast milk production.
Avoid breastfeeding while taking this drug due to the risk of side effects in a breastfed child. There’s also the risk that a breastfed child with HIV could develop HIV resistance to one or both of Descovy’s active drugs.
If you have HIV and are pregnant, breastfeeding, or considering either, talk with your doctor about your treatment options.
Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.