What Doctors Don't Tell YouThe oral contraceptive pill may increase the risk of HIV among women, according to findings by two senior doctors at Family Health International in North Carolina, USA (JAMA, 17 Nov 1993).
The association was first suggested by a study of 97 women in Kenya whose cervical secretions were HIV positive. However, the number of those in the sample taking the Pill was too small for definitive conclusions to be drawn, and the doctors are calling for more detailed research.
“Given the importance of the issue, we suggest that a reanalysis of the data be carried out and that additional studies that include more OC [oral contraceptive] users and a prospective study design be undertaken,” say doctors Charles Morrison and Pamela Schwingl.
Maryon Stewart
Daniel Redwood DC
Tom Ferguson MD