Does hormonal contraception speed HIV progression?(Hormonal Contraceptive Use by HIV-infected Women)(Clinical report)

Does the use of hormonal contraception during the early stages of HIV infection affect disease progression? Likewise, does its use during the later stages of infection affect disease progression?

These questions cannot be answered yet. The only evidence so far that hormonal contraceptive use might affect HIV disease progression comes from a prospective study conducted among sex workers in Mombasa, Kenya. (1) This evidence suggests that using hormonal contraception at the time of infection--before women know that they are infected--may accelerate HIV-related deterioration of the immune system and thus speed the natural course of the infection.

If other studies confirm this finding, it could provide additional incentive for hormonal contraceptive users who are at high risk of HIV infection to also use condoms consistently for HIV prevention. It could also lead to changes in recommendations for hormonal contraceptive use by women at high risk of HIV…