New study ties injected birth control to risk of HIV transmission
A study that could have far-reaching implications on birth control regimens around the world has found an increased risk of HIV transmission for women on injection hormone therapies with an HIV-positive partner.. The Lancet Infectious Disease Journal published the study Monday
A study that could have far-reaching implications on birth control regimens around the world has found an increased risk of HIV transmission for women on injection hormone therapies with an HIV-positive partner.
The Lancet Infectious Disease Journal published the study Monday. The study followed 3,800 couples in Botswana, Kenya, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia. Each couple was sero-discordant, meaning one was infected with HIV and the other was not. The New York Times reports on the findings of the two year long study:
“„The study found that women using hormonal contraception became infected at a rate of 6.61 per 100 person-years, compared with 3.78 for those not using that method. Transmission of H.I.V. to men occurred at a rate of 2.61 per 100 person-years for women using hormonal contraception compared with 1.51 for those who did not.
This study is one of several which have found an increased risk of HIV transmission connected to injection hormones, such as the Pfizer brand Depo-Provera. In addition to this finding, the study also made an unexpected discovery, reported separately in the Lancet: Pregnancy may also increase HIV transmission risks. Study authors are unsure why that is, whether it is the increased rate of unprotected sexual intercourse or some activity of the virus itself triggered by increased hormones in the body as a result of pregnancy.
Scientists did say that they have been unable to identify specifically why the injection hormones or pregnancy hormones may have such effects, but they noted that studies have found there are increased levels of HIV in the vaginal fluids of women on injection hormones — but that is not correlated with similar findings of virus in the blood of the women.
Injection hormones are popular birth control method in developing countries because the injections can be given once every three months and do not require a doctor in attendance. This means women in rural locations can access the medications without traveling long distances.
Related
MA-Sen: 150 Conservative Bloggers Fan Out, Looking for Scandals
BOSTON -- The mysterious Election Journal blog, which first released the infamous 2008 video of two bumbling New Black Panther Party members waving nightsticks
MA-Sen: 66 to 19
BOSTON -- That, via Alex Isenstadt and Josh Kraushaar, is the number that defined the Massachusetts Senate race more than anything else. From the primary
MA-Sen: A Text Message From Scott Brown
BOSTON -- Having signed up for Scott Brown’s text message service for election day, I just got this text: Are you about to have lunch? It’s a great time to
MA-Sen: Loyal Democrats Grouse About Coakley
BOSTON -- A little while after noon, a steady crowd of Democratic voters streamed into the Cathedral High School Gymnasium to cast votes for their party’s
MA-Sen: Brown Wins
BOSTON -- At 9:20, the first rumors of Scott Brown’s victory in the Massachusetts Senate race started to work around the room. A moment later, Doug Flutie
MA-Sen Photos: ‘Paint the Town Red! Croakley’s Dead!’
Below are some photos of yesterday’s People’s Rally in Worcester, the rally that Brown held to counter-program the Obama rally in Boston. The crush of
MA-Sen: Out-of-Staters for Brown
BOSTON -- A surprising discovery at yesterday’s People’s Rally in Worcester was just how many people had traveled into the state to assist, in whatever way,
Menendez, Lautenberg to Continue BP-Lockerbie Investigation
Sens. Robert Menendez and Frank Lautenberg, both New Jersey Democrats, will continue to seek details about BP’s alleged involvement in the release last year of
Net Investors Bullish on Palin’s Prospects for Staying on Ticket
Just for fun, the Internet prediction Website Intrade has opened a contract on whether Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin will be withdrawn as McCain’s running mate.
No Experience Necessary
Gov. Sarah Palin’s a middle-class hockey mom, but does that really qualify her to be vice president?