Ainara Pedroso’s life is a testament to strength, love, and resilience. Originally from the Canary Islands, Spain, she moved to Cork, Ireland, with a heart full of hope and a future brimming with possibilities. She envisioned building a family with her husband, Peter, who stood by her side through thick and thin. Like many couples, they dreamed of starting a new chapter filled with children’s laughter and the joy of parenthood. But what began as a hopeful journey soon became a profoundly personal battle that tested their endurance, patience, and faith in the healthcare system they relied on.

In 2017, Ainara was diagnosed with HIV, a virus she contracted from a previous partner. The news was devastating, but Ainara faced it with remarkable courage. She began treatment immediately, and within a matter of months, her viral load was undetectable. For those unfamiliar with the term, “undetectable” means that the virus is so well controlled that it cannot be passed on to her partner through sexual contact or to any future children. Despite living with HIV, Ainara’s health was vital, and her spirit was even stronger. She had taken control of her life and her diagnosis, determined not to let the virus define her or limit her dreams.

But when Ainara and Peter began trying to conceive, they encountered an obstacle far more frustrating than they could have imagined. After months of unsuccessful attempts, the couple sought medical advice. Tests revealed that Peter had an underlying fertility issue that made natural conception unlikely. IVF—In Vitro Fertilization—became their only hope of having the family they had longed for. It was a blow, but they were determined to move forward, grateful that Ireland had recently introduced publicly funded fertility treatments for eligible couples.

With renewed hope, Ainara and Peter applied for IVF treatment, thinking that their dream of becoming parents was finally within reach. But then, an unexpected and deeply painful reality set in. Despite Ireland’s progressive steps in offering fertility treatments, Ainara, because of her HIV status, was told that no lab in the country could process her IVF. In Ireland, outdated regulations require separate storage and facilities for HIV-positive patients’ samples, and as it stood, no lab had the infrastructure to accommodate her.

For Ainara, it was as if every door to motherhood had been slammed shut, one after another. Despite being undetectable—despite the scientific fact that she posed no risk to her husband, to medical staff, or to a future child—her HIV status was being used as a reason to deny her the one thing she wanted most: a chance at motherhood.

The pain of being told she couldn’t proceed with IVF was compounded by the knowledge that this denial was based on fear, stigma, and outdated policies rather than any real medical risk. She had fought so hard to manage her health, to ensure her virus was undetectable, and now she was being punished for a diagnosis she had overcome. “With HIV, the doors start closing,” Ainara says, her voice thick with frustration and sorrow. And for her and Peter, that reality is heartbreaking.

The Irish government has acknowledged the service gap and promised a solution. By 2025, they say, a new fertility centre will open, one that will include services for individuals living with HIV. But for Ainara and Peter, time feels like an enemy. Waiting years for the possibility of IVF feels like watching their dreams slip through their fingers, day by day, month by month. Every delay feels like a reminder of what they’re being denied, not because of any failing on their part but because the system hasn’t caught up with the science.

Their story is more than a struggle for access to fertility treatment—it is a reflection of the broader challenges faced by people living with HIV. Despite medical advancements that make it possible for people like Ainara to live whole, healthy, and vibrant lives, the stigma surrounding HIV lingers in ways that are both subtle and devastatingly obvious. Ainara and Peter are not just fighting for a child; they are fighting against the invisible barriers that society still places in front of those living with HIV.

Through it all, Ainara remains resilient. Her love for Peter and their shared desire for a family is a source of strength. She holds onto the hope that one day, they will cradle their child in their arms, that the system will change, and that people living with HIV will no longer face these kinds of barriers.

But until that day comes, Ainara continues to tell her story—not just for herself but for every person living with HIV who faces a future of uncertainty. Her journey is one of hope, heartache, and an unwavering belief that the doors will open for her and many others like her.