Cabenuva is a brand-name injectable liquid suspension prescribed to treat HIV in some adults and children. It contains the active ingredients cabotegravir and rilpivirine. It’s not known whether Cabenuva is safe to receive during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Keep reading for specific information about reproductive health and Cabenuva. For a comprehensive look, see this other article on Cabenuva.

If you can become pregnant, it’s important to consider whether Cabenuva is a safe choice for you.

It’s not known whether Cabenuva is safe to receive while pregnant. At this time, there isn’t enough data on the safety of Cabenuva during pregnancy.

Cabenuva contains the active drugs cabotegravir and rilpivirine. A medication similar to cabotegravir, called dolutegravir, may be associated with a risk of congenital anomalies (commonly called birth defects) for a fetus if used during pregnancy.

In animal studies, cabotegravir was associated with an increased risk of death in the animals’ offspring. It’s important to note that animal studies don’t always predict what will happen in humans.

Cabenuva can remain in your body for 12 months or longer after your dose. So if you’re planning to become pregnant in the next year, talk with your doctor about the best plan for HIV treatment. They may monitor you more often throughout your pregnancy, or they may recommend a different treatment than Cabenuva. Learn more about HIV and pregnancy.

Pregnancy registry

If you do receive Cabenuva during pregnancy, consider enrolling in the Antiretroviral Pregnancy Registry. (Antiretrovirals are drugs to treat HIV.) This registry gathers information about the use of certain HIV drugs during pregnancy. Your doctor can enroll you in the pregnancy registry by calling 800-258-4263 or by visiting the registry website.

If you’re breastfeeding or planning to do so, it’s important to consider how Cabenuva may affect you and a child who is breastfed.

It’s unknown whether it’s safe to breastfeed during Cabenuva treatment. No animal or human studies have looked at whether this drug passes into breast milk or if it would have any effect on a child who is breastfed.

But the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) does not recommend breastfeeding if you have HIV. This is because HIV can pass through breast milk to a child who’s breastfed. If you’re considering breastfeeding, your doctor will likely recommend other ways to feed a child who’s breastfeed.

If you’re sexually active and you or your partner can become pregnant, it’s important to know how the use of Cabenuva may affect your birth control decisions.

It’s not known whether Cabenuva is safe to receive during pregnancy. If you’re sexually active and you or your partner can become pregnant, talk with your doctor about your birth control needs during Cabenuva treatment.

Disclaimer: Medical News Today 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.