Exploring Genitoanal Injury & HIV Risk among Women: Menstrual Phase, Hormonal Birth Control & Injury Frequency & Prevalence

Genital, anal and oral injuries sustained from sexual intercourse may explain HIV transmission among women. We determined the variability in genitoanal injury frequency and prevalence in women following consensual sexual intercourse, exploring the role of menstrual phase and hormonal birth control.

We used a longitudinal, observational design with a convenience sample of 393 women aged 21 and older. Participants had a baseline interview with gynecologic examination, followed by consensual sexual intercourse with a male partner and a second gynecologic examination. We analyzed injury prevalence with logistic regression and injury frequency with negative binomial regression among women who were: a) menstrual, not using hormonal birth control, b) menstrual, using hormonal birth control, or c) menopausal. We also compared injury among menstrual women in the follicular, ovulatory and luteal phases.

Women using hormonal birth control had 38% more external genitalia injuries and more than twice the anal injuries as the non-hormonal birth control menstruating group. Menopausal women had more than three times the anal injuries than those in the non-hormonal menstrual group. Among menstrual women, those in the follicular phase had a greater prevalence and frequency of external genitalia injuries than those in other phases.

Increased rates of post-coital genitoanal injuries are noted among women using hormonal birth control and/or in the follicular phase of menstruation. Biological factors that influence women's risk for HIV warrant further investigation.

Via: http://ht.ly/S3XsI

By: Brawner BM1, Sommers MS, Moore K, Aka-James R, Zink T, Brown KM, Fargo JD.

• 1University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, Center for Health Equity Research and Center for Global Women's Health, 418 Curie Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA, 19104; 2University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Jordan Medical Education Center, 3400 Civic Center Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19104; 3Brown University School of Public Health, Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies, 121 South Main Street, Providence, RI, 02903; 4Wright State University Department of Family Medicine, 725 University Boulevard, Dayton, OH 45435; 5Utah State University Department of Psychology, 2800 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT 84322.