Exploring Genitoanal Injury and HIV Risk Among Women: Menstrual Phase, Hormonal Birth Control, and Injury Frequency and Prevalence.
BACKGROUND
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 after consensual sexual intercourse, exploring the role of menstrual phase and hormonal birth control.


METHODS
We used a longitudinal observational design with a convenience sample of 393 women aged 21 years and older. Participants had a baseline interview with gynecological examination, followed by consensual sexual intercourse with a male partner and a second gynecological examination. We analyzed injury prevalence with logistic regression and injury frequency with negative binomial regression among women who were (1) menstrual, not using hormonal birth control, (2) menstrual, using hormonal birth control, or (3) menopausal. We also compared injury among menstrual women in the follicular, ovulatory, and luteal phases.


RESULTS
Women using hormonal birth control had 38% more external genitalia injuries [adjusted rate ratio (ARR) = 1.38, P = 0.030] and more than twice the anal injuries (ARR = 2.67, P = 0.005) as the nonhormonal birth control menstruating group. Menopausal women had more than 3 times the anal injuries (ARR = 3.36, P = 0.020) than those in the nonhormonal 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.


CONCLUSIONS
Increased rates of postcoital 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.
*Department of Family and Community Health, University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, Philadelphia, PA; †Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA; ‡Center for Alcohol & Addiction Studies, Brown University School of Public Health and Bradley Hasbro Children's Research Center, Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, RI; §Department of Family Medicine, Wright State University, Dayton, OH; and ‖Department of Psychology, Utah State University, Logan, UT.
Bridgette M
BM
Brawner
Marilyn S
MS
Sommers
Kendra
K
Moore
Rose
R
Aka-James
Therese
T
Zink
Kathleen M
KM
Brown
Jamison D
JD
Fargo
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001003:Anal Canal / Q000293:injuries*; D003075:Coitus; D003127:Colposcopy; D003267:Contraception; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008183:Luteal Phase; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D014621:Vagina / Q000293:injuries*; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult