Hormonal contraceptives make it easier for HIV to spread between heterosexual couples, a new study suggests.
The study, conducted in Africa, found women who used hormonal contraception had twice the risk of acquiring HIV or transmitting it to their male partners as those who did not use hormonal contraception, MSNBC reports.
"These findings have important implications for family planning and HIV-1 prevention programs, especially in settings with high HIV-1 prevalence", said study researcher Jared Baeten, of the University of Washington, as reported by MSNBC. HIV-1 is the prevalent subtype of HIV.
The new study included 3,790 heterosexual couples in which one partner was HIV positive and the other was not, MSNBC reports. The couples were from seven African countries (Botswana, Kenya, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda and Zimbabwe).
Women using hormonal contraceptives were twice as likely to become infected with HIV, according to MSNBC. The risk was increased among those using injectable and oral contraceptives, although for the increase seen in those using oral contraceptives was smaller and may have been due to chance.
"Recommendations regarding contraceptive use, particularly emphasizing the importance of dual protection with condoms and the use of non-hormonal and low-dose hormonal methods for women with or at risk for HIV-1, are urgently needed", said study researcher Renee Heffron, also of the University of Washington, as reported by MSNBC.
Researchers speculate that hormonal contraception could cause biological changes, such as changes to the cells that line the vagina or cervix, that influence susceptibility to HIV, MSNBC reports.
