Relationship of Hormonal Contraceptive Use to HIV Transmission
For nearly a decade there has been speculation that use of hormonal contraception might increase a woman’s susceptibility to HIV. Were this association to be demonstrated, it would have major implications for women’s health, since hormonal contraception is very widely used. Indeed, in some countries it is the most popular form of contraception, and can be a life-saving intervention in areas with high maternal mortality.
In response to this potential problem, Gynuity convened a meeting of top experts in the field in May 2005. The meeting’s purpose was to review existing evidence and reach consensus on its implications for reproductive health and HIV programs and future research. The meeting concluded that there is evidence suggestive of increased HIV susceptibility with hormonal contraceptive use among female sex workers. However, no basis exists for women in the general population to change their contraceptive behavior. The results of a recently published large population-based study of hormonal contraception and HIV conducted in Thailand, Uganda and Zimbabwe corroborate this conclusion. This study found that the use of hormonal contraception, either combined oral contraceptives or DMPA, did not increase the risk of HIV infection within a general population of women.