Recorded presentation

Anshu P. Mohllajee, MPH, Association of Schools of Public Health, 4770 Buford Highway, NE, MS K-34, Atlanta, GA 30341, 770-488-6303, amohllaj@hsph.harvard.edu, Kathryn M Curtis, PhD, Division of Reproductive Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Highway NE, MS K-34, Atlanta, GA 30341, Kavita Nanda, MD, MHS, Family Health International, P.O. Box 13950, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, and Herbert Peterson, MD, Department of Reproductive Health and Research, World Health Organization, Avenue Appia 20, 1211 Geneva 27, Geneva, Switzerland.

Objective: The rise in the rate of women of reproductive age with HIV/AIDS creates a compelling need for determining the contraceptive options for women with HIV/AIDS, including those on antiretroviral (ARV) therapy. The World Health Organization's (WHO’s) Medical Eligibility Criteria for Contraceptive Use (MEC) provides evidence-based guidance regarding who can use contraceptive methods safely. In 2003, WHO updated this guidance for women with HIV/AIDS and created new guidance for women using ARV therapy. Methodology: We conducted systematic reviews regarding contraceptive use among women with HIV/AIDS and women on ARV therapy. We used the Meta-analysis Of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (MOOSE) and Cochrane Collaboration guidelines to guide our reviews. A working group comprised of family planning experts from 18 different countries was convened to assess the evidence and determine the recommendations through a consensus-driven process. Results: At the MEC Expert Working Group meeting in 2003, the experts reviewed new data regarding the safety of contraceptive use among women with HIV/AIDS, with a focus on potential risk of disease progression and transmission to uninfected partners, as well as drug interactions between contraceptive methods and ARVs. The Expert Working Group considered these data in providing new guidance for contraceptive use among women with HIV/AIDS and women using ARVs, specifically for hormonal contraceptives, IUDs, barrier methods, and sterilization. Conclusions: The updated, evidence-based WHO family planning guidance for women with HIV/AIDS and women using ARVs will pertain to the millions of women of reproductive age who are infected with HIV/AIDS globally.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participants in this session will be able to

• Recognize WHO’s evidence-based guidelines for family planning.
• Discuss current evidence on contraceptive use among women with HIV/AIDS.
• List the new recommendations in WHO’s evidence-based family planning guidelines for women with HIV/AIDS.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

Recorded presentation