Evidence Depo-Provera increases women’s risk to get HIV by 40%-50%
Beginning in the mid-1990s, researchers recognized evidence that Depo-Provera injections (Depo) likely increased women’s risk to get HIV. More than a dozen studies over the next several decades recorded new HIV infections in women using or not using Depo.
During 2015-16, four research teams reviewed evidence from decades of research on women’s HIV risk with Depo. Here’s what they found:
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The active chemical in Depo – depo medroxyprogesterone acetate or DMPA – is similar to a natural hormone, progesterone. However, DMPA is not exactly the same. Specific differences between natural progesterone and DMPA may explain why Depo injections increase women’s risk to get HIV whereas some other injections for birth control (eg, NET EN) don’t seem to do so[5].
Depo weakens bones
WARNING: LOSS OF BONE MINERAL DENSITY
Women who use Depo-Provera Contraceptive Injection may lose significant bone mineral density. Bone loss is greater with increasing duration of use and may not be completely reversible.
It is unknown if use of Depo-Provera Contraceptive Injection during adolescence or early adulthood, a critical period of bone accretion, will reduce peak bone mass and increase the risk for osteoporotic fracture in later life.
Depo-Provera Contraceptive Injection should not be used as a long-term birth control method (i.e., longer than 2 years) unless other birth control methods are considered inadequate.
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Other side effects with Depo
Many women taking Depo have irregular bleeding, weight gain (reported average weight gain of >6 kg in 4 years), and other problems. It has also been linked to an increase in some cancers.[6] If a woman is already HIV-positive, Depo use seems to increase HIV transmission to their sex partners.
References
1. Ralph LR, McCoy SI, Shiu K, Padian N. Hormonal contraception use and women’s risk of HIV acquisition: a meta-analysis of observational studies. Lancet Infect Dis 2015; 15: 181-89. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4526270/ (accessed 5 March 2018).
2. Morrison CS. Chen P-L. Kwok C, et al. Hormonal contraception and the risk of HIV acquisition: an individual participant meta-analysis. PLoS Medicine 2015. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1001778. (accessed 5 March 2018).
3. Brind J, Condly SJ, Mosher SW, et al. Risk of HIV infection in depo-medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) users: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Issues in Law and Medicine 2015; 30: 129-138. Abstract available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=brind+condly+mosher (accessed 5 March 2018). More results from this review are at: Depo-Provera and HIV. PRI, no date. Available at: https://www.pop.org/depo-provera-and-hiv/ (accessed 6 March 2018).
4. Polis CB, Curtis KM, Hannaford PC, et al. An updated systematic review of epidemiological evidence on hormonal contraceptive methods and HIV acquisition in women. AIDS 2016; 30: 2665-2683. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5106090/ (accessed 5 March 2018).
5. Hapgood JP, Kaushic C. Hel Z. Hormonal contraception and HIV-1 acquisition: biological mechanisms. Available at: https://academic.oup.com/edrv/article/39/1/36/4788769 (accessed 4 March 2018).
5. FDA. Full prescribing information [for Depo-Provera]. No date. Available at: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2010/020246s036lbl.pdf (accessed 7 March 2018).
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