World Health Organization to issue guidance on hormonal contraceptives and HIV - The World Health Organization (WHO) will later this month issue further guidance on the reported link between hormonal contraceptives such as the pill, injectables, implants and HIV, a WHO statement obtained by PANA here Friday said.

On 31 January and 1 February, WHO convened a Stakeholders' Meeting on Hormonal Contraception and HIV Infection.

The meeting was attended by 53 experts from 20 countries who reviewed the body of published evidence on the use of hormonal contraceptives and HIV acquisition, progression, and transmission.

The review was prompted by new findings in 2011 that implied a possible increase in HIV infection among women at risk of HIV who use hormonal contraception, or increased transmission to an un-infected partner when a woman is living with HIV and using hormonal contraceptives.

The outcomes of this meeting will now be assessed by the WHO Guidelines Review Committee (GRC) - the body that oversees the production of WHO public health guidelines for countries.

The Committee will meet on 15 February and announce its recommendations the following day. 

However, WHO guidelines clearly state, and call on health service providers to remind their patients, that neither hormonal contraceptives nor intrauterine devices (IUDs) offer protection against HIV or other sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

According to WHO, condoms are the mainstay of dual protection against both unwanted pregnancy and STIs, including HIV.

Pana 03/02/2012