The safety of hormonal contraceptives for women living with HIV and their sexual partners

Posted by Share-Net NL on December 15, 2015 at 11:59 am



Background

Hormonal contraceptives are important for the health and well-being of some women living with HIV, so evaluation of evidence regarding their safety vis-à-vis HIV-related risks is important.

Methods

We updated two prior systematic reviews on the impact of hormonal contraception (HC) on HIV disease progression and female-to-male HIV transmission.

Results

One new study finds no increased risk for HIV disease progression or death associated with oral contraceptive use [adjusted (adj) hazard ratio (HR) 0.83, confidence interval [CI] 0.48–1.44] or injectables (adj HR 0.72, CI 0.53–0.98). Three new studies did not find significantly increased risks for measures of female-to-male HIV transmission with HC use.

Conclusions

Hormonal contraceptive methods do not appear to accelerate HIV disease progression. More research is needed to clarify whether HC impacts HIV transmissibility.

Keywords

  • Hormonal contraception;
  • HIV;
  • injectable contraceptives;
  • oral contraceptives
Author: Sharon J. Phillips; Chelsea B. Polis; Kathryn M. Curtis
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