Pregnancy, Contraception, and Risk for HIV Infection

Having high levels of progesterone (such as those seen during pregnancy and with use of depot medroxyprogesterone acetate [DMPA]) might raise women's risk for acquiring and transmitting HIV infection, but data have been inconsistent. To further evaluate this possibility, investigators conducted two secondary analyses of data collected prospectively from >3300 HIV-serodiscordant couples in Africa. In about 65% of couples, the woman was the infected partner. Median follow-up was 18 to 20 months.

HIV incidence in male partners of infected women doubled when their partners were pregnant versus not pregnant (adjusted hazard ratio, 2.5; 95% confidence interval, 1.3–4.8). HIV incidence in women was 7.4 versus 3.0 per 100 person-years during pregnan…