Genital HIV-1 viral load is correlated with blood plasma HIV-1 viral load in Brazilian women and is reduced by antiretroviral therapy.

Context: Cervicovaginal secretions represent the primary vehicle in mother to infant and sexual HIV-1 transmission. Understanding the viral dynamics in this compartment is important to improve interventions to decrease HIV transmission.

Objectives: To evaluate the correlation of HIV-1 blood plasma viral load and cervicovaginal HIV-1 viral load and the effect of antiretroviral therapy (ART) on cervicovaginal HIV-1 viral load.