This qualitative study discusses how professionals in specialized health care services in the city of São Paulo have responded to the reproductive demands of people living with HIV/AIDS. Participant observation was the main methodological strategy; the concept of health demands was an important theoretical reference in the analysis. According to the health professionals, reproductive health demands were raised exclusively by women and related to mother-to-child HIV transmission. Reproductive issues were not recognized as patients’ needs, nor were they included among the objectives of collective staff work. Distinct technical, ethical, and moral rationalities were observed. Among health professionals, to control the epidemic was the prevailing logic, while among patients, exercising lifestyle choice was the key issue, materialized in the "unexpected advent of pregnancy". In order to formulate health care strategies that respect human rights and reduce the risks of HIV transmission, it is necessary to recognize the autonomy of people living with HIV/AIDS in relation to reproductive decisions.
HIV; Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; Reproductive Health; Health Services