title: The menstrual cycle does not affect human immunodeficiency virus type 1 levels in vaginal secretions.
abstract: To determine whether the menstrual cycle affects human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type 1 levels in vaginal secretions, vaginal lavage samples were collected at 7, 14, and 21 days after initiation of menses, to compare virus levels during the follicular, ovulatory, and luteal phases. During 33 menstrual cycles in 25 women, HIV-1 RNA levels in vaginal secretions ranged from <1000 to 5.3x10(7) copies per lavage, and weekly changes ranged from <0.5 to 2.5 log(10) copies per lavage. HIV-1 RNA levels in vaginal lavage samples from days 7, 14, and 21 were not significantly different. No discernible pattern was found in changes of vaginal virus loads (VVLs) during the menstrual cycle. VVLs were not correlated with plasma estradiol or progesterone levels (P>.05). These results suggest that hormonal changes during the menstrual cycle do not have a significant effect on HIV-1 RNA levels in vaginal secretions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Grady Infectious Disease Program, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA.
authors.forename: Julie M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Villanueva
authors.forename: Tedd V
authors.initials: TV
authors.lastname: Ellerbrock
authors.forename: Jeffrey L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Lennox
authors.forename: Timothy J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Bush
authors.forename: Thomas C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Wright
authors.forename: Melody
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pratt-Palmore
authors.forename: Tammy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Evans-Strickfaden
authors.forename: Lois J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Conley
authors.forename: Cathy
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schnell
authors.forename: Clyde E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Hart
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008597:Menstrual Cycle; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D014621:Vagina / Q000821:virology*; D014766:Viremia / Q000821:virology
chemical_list: D012367:RNA, Viral; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol