Contraceptive use in HIV infected women.

Despite the importance of contraception in women infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) there is no published data on actual contraceptive use. The authors studied 54 women infected with HIV in a detailed questionnaire-based interview. 48 had used intravenous drugs in the past and 29 were taking prescribed methadone. All women had been sexually active and 45 had current sexual partners. They described longterm (mean=4.1 years) stable monogamous and mostly happy relationships. A majority used effective contraception but the methods did not correspond well with current recommendations. A sizeable minority had never used contraception. Nearly all women wanted at least 1 child and did not see HIV infection as a contraindication to this. Of the partners 26 men were either HIV-negative or had not been tested and were presumed negative. Only 3 of these men always used condoms and 15 never did; this creates concern for further heterosexual spread of the disease. Although the knowledge that they are infected with HIV has had a definite effect on the attitudes of these women to contraception and childbearing their needs for motherhood and a sexual relationship remain paramount. (authors)