Kt. Barnhart et Sj. Sondheimer, CONTRACEPTION CHOICE AND SEXUALLY-TRANSMITTED DISEASE, Current opinion in obstetrics & gynecology, 5(6), 1993, pp. 823-828
Sexually active couples need to be concerned with the risk of sexually
transmitted diseases (STDs) and how their choice of contraception inf
luences that risk. Condoms provide the best documented protection agai
nst such pathogens as: gonorrhea, herpes simplex virus (HSV), hepatiti
s B, HIV, and chlamydia. Female dependent barrier methods also provide
protection against most STDs and also possibly HIV. Most hormonal non
-barrier contraceptives, although providing excellent protection again
st unwanted pregnancies, provide little protection against STDs. Oral
contraceptive pills (OCP) may increase the risk of infection with huma
n papillomavirus (HPV) and cervical infections of chlamydia. Individua
ls at high risk for both an unwanted pregnancy and an STD should be co
unseled to use both a hormonal and barrier contraceptive. Recently, no
noxynol-9 (N-9) and OCP use have been associated with an increase in H
IV infection in African women at high risk for HIV. This association h
as not been found in other studies and currently does not outweigh the
proven benefits of these contraceptive methods.