Title: Does hormonal contraception modify the risk of STI acquisition?

POPLINE Document Number: 318980

Corporate Author(s):

World Health Organization [WHO]. Department of Reproductive Health and Research

Source citation:

Geneva, Switzerland, WHO, Department of Reproductive Health and Research, 2007. [2] p. (Provider Brief)

Abstract:

There are many factors that increase the chance of developing an STI. The most common ones are: having multiple sexual partners, having sexual intercourse with partners who have more than one sexual partner, not using condoms during intercourse, the presence of genital ulcer disease, young age, and previously having had an STI. What is not established is whether a woman's use of hormonal contraceptives may increase her risk of developing an STI. Hormonal methods include combined pills, combined injections, progestin-only injections such as DMPA (depot medroxyprogesterone acetate), progestin-only pills, the patch, the vaginal ring and implants. Numerous studies have investigated this subject, however the answers are not clear. What is clear is that none of these methods protects a woman from acquiring an STI; therefore, providers should counsel women at risk of infection to use condoms during each act of intercourse, even if they are already using another contraceptive method. (excerpt)

Keywords:

Research Proposal
Evaluation
Women
Dual Protection
Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Infection Transmission
Contraceptive Agents, Female
Risk Assessment
Risk Behavior
Sex Behavior
Demographic Factors
Population
Contraceptive Methods
Contraception
Family Planning
Reproductive Tract Infections
Infections
Diseases
Contraceptive Agents
Behavior