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Contraception. 2015 Oct 26. pii: S0010-7824(15)30158-X. doi: 10.1016/j.contraception.2015.10.002.

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

Phillips SJ, Polis CB and Curtis KM

Abstract

Background: Hormonal contraceptives are important for the health and wellbeing of some women living with HIV, so evaluation of evidence regarding their safety vis-á-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 (adj HR 0.83, 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.

Comment: Reliable contraception is very important for HIV-positive women. It is good to see that hormonal contraception does not influence the disease in a negative way. (HMV)