Hormonal contraceptive use, cervical ectopy, and the acquisition of cervical infections.
OBJECTIVE
Several previous studies have suggested that hormonal contraception could be associated with increased risk of cervical infections. However, few high-quality prospective studies have examined this relationship.


OBJECTIVE
The goal of this study was to measure the effect of oral contraceptives (OC) and depot-medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) on the acquisition of cervical chlamydial and gonococcal infections.


METHODS
Women attending 2 reproductive health centers in Baltimore, MD, were enrolled into a prospective cohort study. Participants were 15 to 45 years and were initiating OCs or DMPA or not using hormonal contraception. Interviews, physical examinations, and testing for incident cervical infections were conducted at 3, 6, and 12 months.


RESULTS
The analysis included 819 women. Most were single (77%) and nulliparous (75%); 43% were black. Median age was 22 years. During the study, 45 women acquired a chlamydial or gonococcal infection (6.2 per 100 women-years). DMPA use (hazard ratio [HR], 3.6; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.6-8.5), but not OC use (HR, 1.5; 95% CI, 0.6-3.5), was significantly associated with increased acquisition of cervical infections after adjusting for other risk factors. Cervical ectopy was not an important mediator of cervical infection risk.


CONCLUSIONS
DMPA use, but not OC use, appeared to be significantly associated with increased acquisition of cervical chlamydial and gonococcal infections.
Family Health International, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709, USA. cmorrison@fhi.org
Charles S
CS
Morrison
Patricia
P
Bright
Emelita L
EL
Wong
Cynthia
C
Kwok
Irina
I
Yacobson
Charlotte A
CA
Gaydos
Heidi T
HT
Tucker
Paul D
PD
Blumenthal
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015142:Baltimore / Q000453:epidemiology; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000473:pathology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003267:Contraception / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003278:Contraceptives, Oral, Hormonal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017258:Medroxyprogesterone Acetate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D002577:Uterine Cervical Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control
D003278:Contraceptives, Oral, Hormonal; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D017258:Medroxyprogesterone Acetate