Hormonal contraception and the risk of HIV acquisition.

Background: Combined oral contraceptives (COC) and depot-medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) are among the most widely used family planning methods; their effect on HIV acquisition is not known.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of COC and DMPA on HIV acquisition and any modifying effects of other sexually transmitted infections.

Methods: This multicenter prospective cohort study enroled 6109 HIV-uninfected women, aged 18-35 years, from family planning clinics in Uganda, Zimbabwe and Thailand.

Acceptability of five nonoxynol-9 spermicides.

Objective: To examine the acceptability of five nonoxynol-9 (N-9) spermicides.

Methods: We analyzed data from a randomized trial of five products, including three gels containing different amounts of N-9 per dose, a film and a suppository. In the trial, 1536 participants were asked to use the assigned spermicide for 7 months and to complete questionnaires 4 weeks after admission and at discontinuation.

Participant characteristics associated with withdrawal from a large randomized trial of spermicide effectiveness.

Background: In most recent large efficacy trials of barrier contraceptive methods, a high proportion of participants withdrew before the intended end of follow-up. The objective of this analysis was to explore characteristics of participants who failed to complete seven months of planned participation in a trial of spermicide efficacy.

Methods: Trial participants were expected to use the assigned spermicide for contraception for 7 months or until pregnancy occurred.

Contraceptive effectiveness and safety of five nonoxynol-9 spermicides: a randomized trial.

Objectives: To estimate and compare the effectiveness and safety of 5 spermicides over 6 and 7 months of use, respectively. The spermicides included 3 gels containing 52.5 mg, 100 mg, and 150 mg of nonoxynol-9 per dose and a film and a suppository, each containing 100 mg of nonoxynol-9 per dose.