Drug –Drug Interactions, Effectiveness, and Safety of Hormonal Contraceptives in Women Living with HIV

AbstractFamily planning options, including hormonal contraceptives, are essential for improving reproductive health among the more than 17  million women living with HIV worldwide. For these women, prevention of unintended pregnancy decreases maternal and child mortality, as well as reduces the risk of perinatal HIV transmission. Similarly, treatment of HIV with antiretroviral therapy (ART) is essential for reducing morbidity and mort ality among HIV-positive individuals, as well as preventing HIV transmission between sexual partners or from mother to child. Importantly, despite the benefits of hormonal contraceptives, barriers to effective family planning methods exist for HIV-positive women. Specifically, drug–drug interactio ns can occur between some antiretroviral medications and some hormonal contraceptives, which may influence both contraceptive efficacy and tolerability. In addition, safety concerns have been raised about the impact of hormonal contraceptives on HIV disease progression, tolerability, and the risk of female-to-male HIV transmission. This review article summarizes the potential for drug–drug interactions, tolerability, and contraceptive effectiveness when hormonal contraceptives are combined with ART. In addition, the evidence surrounding the influence of hormonal contraceptives on HIV transmi ssion and HIV disease progression in women living with HIV are summarized.
Source: Drug Safety - Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research