Kenya: Birth control method blamed for HIV risk

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Birth control method blamed for HIV risk

Last week, the US Federal Drug Administration warned over the potentially high

risk of blood clots in women using birth control pills containing the hormonal

chemical called drospirenone. It is marketed under various brand names. In

Kenya, such a product is registered with the Pharmacy and Poisons Board as

Yasmin, and is sold in the form of tablets.

By GATONYE GATHURA gathura@... AND LORRAINE ANYANGO

lonyango@...

Posted Tuesday, October 4 2011 at 21:30

A popular birth control method for Kenyan women has been found to double the

risk of being infected with HIV.

It also doubles the risk of infecting their partners, according to a new study

carried out in Kenya and six other African countries, which was released on

Tuesday.

At the same time, doctors have warned that there is a high risk of blood clots

in women using a family planning pill containing a chemical compound called

drospirenone.

Researchers on Tuesday urged women who use a hormone shot given every three

months to combine it with condoms to reduce the risk of getting infected or

infecting others.

The Kenya Medical Research Institute, Moi University and the University of

Nairobi experts have been working in collaboration with researchers from nine

international universities.

Following studies on 3,790 women in Kenya, Botswana, Rwanda, South Africa,

Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia, such women are being advised to also use condoms in

combination with the hormonal contraceptives to reduce the risk of acquiring or

transmitting HIV.

A hormone is a chemical messenger that transports a signal from one cell to

another.

Last week, the US Federal Drug Administration warned over the potentially high

risk of blood clots in women using birth control pills containing the hormonal

chemical called drospirenone. It is marketed under various brand names.

In Kenya, such a product is registered with the Pharmacy and Poisons Board as

Yasmin, and is sold in the form of tablets.

Another brand name, according to a statement from the US agency is Yaz, whose

generics are sold as Gianvi and Loryna.

Generics of Yasmin include Ocella, Syeda, Zarah, Beyaz and Safyral.

The US regulator has advised women whose birth control pill contains

drospirenone not to stop taking it without first talking to their doctors.

Develop symptoms

" Contact your healthcare professional immediately if you develop any symptoms of

blood clots, including persistent leg pain, severe chest pain or sudden

shortness of breath, " the agency advised.

Most birth control pills in use in Kenya contain another hormonal compound

called levonorgestrel.

When the agency compared the risk of blood clots among women using the pills

made from the two chemical groups, those using drospirenone were two to three

times more likely to get blood clots compared to those in the other group.

http://www.nation.co.ke/News/Birth+control+method+blamed+for+HIV+risk/-/1056/124\

8080/-/item/1/-/vdjsmyz/-/index.html

[Guest guest]

Birth control method blamed for HIV risk

Last week, the US Federal Drug Administration warned over the potentially high

risk of blood clots in women using birth control pills containing the hormonal

chemical called drospirenone. It is marketed under various brand names. In

Kenya, such a product is registered with the Pharmacy and Poisons Board as

Yasmin, and is sold in the form of tablets.

By GATONYE GATHURA gathura@... AND LORRAINE ANYANGO

lonyango@...

Posted Tuesday, October 4 2011 at 21:30

A popular birth control method for Kenyan women has been found to double the

risk of being infected with HIV.

It also doubles the risk of infecting their partners, according to a new study

carried out in Kenya and six other African countries, which was released on

Tuesday.

At the same time, doctors have warned that there is a high risk of blood clots

in women using a family planning pill containing a chemical compound called

drospirenone.

Researchers on Tuesday urged women who use a hormone shot given every three

months to combine it with condoms to reduce the risk of getting infected or

infecting others.

The Kenya Medical Research Institute, Moi University and the University of

Nairobi experts have been working in collaboration with researchers from nine

international universities.

Following studies on 3,790 women in Kenya, Botswana, Rwanda, South Africa,

Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia, such women are being advised to also use condoms in

combination with the hormonal contraceptives to reduce the risk of acquiring or

transmitting HIV.

A hormone is a chemical messenger that transports a signal from one cell to

another.

Last week, the US Federal Drug Administration warned over the potentially high

risk of blood clots in women using birth control pills containing the hormonal

chemical called drospirenone. It is marketed under various brand names.

In Kenya, such a product is registered with the Pharmacy and Poisons Board as

Yasmin, and is sold in the form of tablets.

Another brand name, according to a statement from the US agency is Yaz, whose

generics are sold as Gianvi and Loryna.

Generics of Yasmin include Ocella, Syeda, Zarah, Beyaz and Safyral.

The US regulator has advised women whose birth control pill contains

drospirenone not to stop taking it without first talking to their doctors.

Develop symptoms

" Contact your healthcare professional immediately if you develop any symptoms of

blood clots, including persistent leg pain, severe chest pain or sudden

shortness of breath, " the agency advised.

Most birth control pills in use in Kenya contain another hormonal compound

called levonorgestrel.

When the agency compared the risk of blood clots among women using the pills

made from the two chemical groups, those using drospirenone were two to three

times more likely to get blood clots compared to those in the other group.

http://www.nation.co.ke/News/Birth+control+method+blamed+for+HIV+risk/-/1056/124\

8080/-/item/1/-/vdjsmyz/-/index.html