Some studies have found increased HIV risk associated with self-reported injectable depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) use. This study used samples from women enrolled in previous HIV prevention trials to evaluate the association between serum MPA — the progestin in DMPA — levels and HIV acquisition. The authors found that detection of low levels of MPA close to the estimated time of HIV infection was significantly more frequent among women who acquired HIV. These results should be used to generate new hypotheses about potential mechanisms related to DMPA and HIV susceptibility.
HIV risk associated with serum medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) levels among women in east and southern Africa: A case-control study
Written By
Heffron R, Stalter R, Pyra M, Nanda K, Erikson DW, Hladik F, Blue SW, Davis NL, Mugo N, Kourtis AP, Lingappa JR, Baeten JM, Partners PrEP study and Partners in Prevention HSV/HIV Transmission study teams
