Some Contraceptives May Increase HIV Shedding in the Cervix

Aprospective study of 213 Kenyan HIV-positive women shows that the use of hormonal contraceptives causes an increase in the shedding of HIV in the cervix even when blood-based viral loads remain unchanged, researchers report in the January 23 edition of the journal AIDS. About 42% of the women had HIV-infected cells detected in their cervix before beginning hormonal contraceptives, but that number increased to 52% after birth control was started. HIV RNA was detectable in cervical samples of 82% of the women before beginning contraceptives and in 86% after. Because of the increased presence of HIV in the cervix, 'hormonal contraception may increase the infectivity of HIV'infected women to uninfected partners,' researchers concluded.