No Definitive Link Between Hormonal Contraceptives and Increased Risk of HIV Infection Among Women, CDC Says

"There is no clear link between the use of contraceptives such as the birth control pill or Depo-Provera shots and an increased risk that a woman will contract HIV, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Thursday," Reuters reports, noting that the WHO came to the same conclusion in February. Following a review of recent studies suggesting women taking hormonal contraceptives might be at an increased risk of HIV infection, "the Atlanta-based CDC said, 'the evidence does not suggest' a link between oral contraceptives such as the birth control pill and increased HIV risk," the news agency writes. CDC officials said though the evidence for injectable contraceptives is inconclusive, they too are safe, according to Reuters. "Women at risk for HIV infection or who already have the virus 'can continue to use all hormonal contraceptive methods without restriction,' the CDC said," the news agency writes. However, "the CDC also said it was 'strongly' encouraging the use of condoms as a precaution against the virus that causes AIDS," Reuters notes (Beasley, 6/21).