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Does Pregnancy Pose an HIV Infection Risk for Men?By Gary Bell May 27, 2010 Previous studies have demonstrated that pregnant women are at greater risk of HIV infection. However, a new study, presented at the International Microbicides Conference in Pittsburgh in May seems to demonstrate that men have almost double the risk of HIV infection if their partner is pregnant and HIV+. The study, conducted in 7 countries in Africa, involved over 3,300 serodiscordant (one partner is HIV+ and the other is not) couples. Over two years and 800+ pregnancies it was demonstrated that pregnancy increased the risk of HIV infection for both males and females. The study reports that several factors other than pregnancy, such as sexual behavior, probably contributed to the increased risk for women. However, even when accounting for those factors and even circumcision, the heightened risk for men seemed much more direct. The researchers theorized that certain physiological and immunological changes that occur in a woman during pregnancy may be behind this remarkable finding. Therefore, further study to zero in on these changes is warranted. However, for those who may feel that pregnancy gives one a "free pass" as far as the concern of the woman getting pregnant, this study demonstrates that it is even more imperative to use protection, especially if HIV status is unknown.
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Transition to Hope This year marks Bell's 14th as the executive director of the Philadelphia-based BEBASHI (Blacks Educating Blacks About Sexual Health), founded in 1985 as the nation's first AIDS organization serving African Americans with HIV. Bell has been widely praised, not only for increasing funding and accountability at a time when HIV donations have plummeted, but also for launching such innovative programs as a women's initiative, prison-discharge planning, and, most recently, a diabetes intervention. More About Gary: Profile Subscribe to Gary's Blog:
Recent Posts:
January 24, 2012 - HIV Criminalization: A Blog Entry by Gary Bell
January 9, 2012 - AIDS Denialism: A Blog Entry by Gary Bell October 6, 2011 - Can Certain Contraceptives Increase HIV Risk? A Blog Entry by Gary Bell August 18, 2011 - Treatment Is Prevention Part 1: A Blog Entry by Gary Bell July 20, 2011 - HIV at 30: A Blog Entry by Gary Bell A Brief Disclaimer: The opinions expressed by TheBody.com's bloggers are entirely their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views of TheBody.com itself. |
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