Hormonal Contraceptive Use Among HIV-Positive Women and HIV Transmission Risk to Male Partners, Zambia, 1994-2012

J Infect Dis. 2016 Oct 1;214(7):1063-71. doi: 10.1093/infdis/jiw322. Epub 2016 Jul 26.

Abstract

Background: Evidence on the association between female-to-male human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission risk and hormonal contraception is sparse and conflicting.

Methods: Heterosexual HIV-discordant couples from Lusaka, Zambia, were followed longitudinally at 3 month-intervals from 1994 to 2012. The impact of hormonal contraception on time to HIV transmission from HIV-positive women to their HIV-negative male partners (M-F+) was evaluated.

Results: Among 1601 M-F+ couples, 171 genetically linked HIV transmissions occurred in men over 3216 couple-years (5.3 transmissions/100 couple-years; 95% confidence interval [CI], 4.5-6.2). In multivariable Cox models, neither injectable (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 0.6; 95% CI, .4-1.2), oral contraceptive pill (aHR, 0.8; 95% CI, .3-2.1), nor implant (aHR, 0.8; 95% CI, .5-1.4) use was associated with HIV transmission, relative to nonhormonal methods, after controlling for the man's age at baseline and time-varying measures of pregnancy, self-reported unprotected sex with the study partner, sperm present on a vaginal swab wet mount, genital inflammation of either partner, genital ulceration of the man, and first follow-up interval. Sensitivity analyses, including marginal structural modeling and controlling for viral load and fertility intentions available in a subset of couples, led to similar conclusions.

Conclusions: Our findings suggest null associations between hormonal contraception and risk of female-to-male HIV transmission. We support efforts to increase the contraceptive method mix for all women, regardless of HIV serostatus, along with reinforced condom counseling for HIV-serodiscordant couples.

Keywords: HIV discordant couples; HIV risk; Zambia; hormonal contraception; longitudinal cohort.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Contraceptives, Oral, Hormonal / administration & dosage*
  • Disease Transmission, Infectious*
  • Drug Utilization*
  • Female
  • HIV Infections / transmission*
  • Humans
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pregnancy
  • Risk Assessment
  • Zambia

Substances

  • Contraceptives, Oral, Hormonal