Results from a study published this week in the Lancet Infectious Diseases journal suggest that there may be an increased risk of HIV transmission in couples in which one partner is HIV positive and the woman uses injectable contraceptives. This research is one of a number of studies which explore the relationship between contraceptive use and HIV transmission.
Family planning is a key intervention in reducing incidence of HIV as it plays a major role in reducing transmission of HIV from mother to child. Many of Marie Stopes International’s family planning programmes integrate HIV services, such as voluntary counselling and testing and all Marie Stopes International family planning counselling highlights the importance of dual protection and the role of condoms in preventing transmission of HIV and other STIs.
As recommended in the study, Marie Stopes International will continue to provide women with the option of injectable contraception and all of our country programmes will continue to counsel their clients that condoms should also be used to offer dual protection against unwanted pregnancies and HIV/STIs.
We will continue to work closely with other organisations to review the evidence and the implications of this new study.
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Notes to Editors
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About Marie Stopes International
Millions of the world's poorest and most vulnerable women trust Marie Stopes International to provide them with quality family planning and reproductive healthcare. We have been delivering contraception, safe abortion and mother and baby care for over thirty years and have offices and operations in 40 countries around the world.
Our clients are at the centre of everything we do; through our innovation and partnerships, underserved women and couples are able to access services and make choices about their sexual and reproductive health. By providing high quality services where they are needed the most, Marie Stopes International prevents unnecessary deaths and makes a sustainable impact on the lives of millions of people every year.
For more information, please visit our website www.mariestopes.org