Group requests more research, better communication from WHO on use of hormonal contraceptives, HIV risk

"The International Community of Women Living with HIV (ICW) expressed concern Monday over the World Health Organization's (WHO's) Technical Statement on Hormonal Contraceptives and HIV (.pdf) and its accompanying press release," the Center for Global Health Policy's "Science Speaks" blog reports. "WHO released the statement last week -- concluding that women living with HIV or at high risk of HIV can safely continue to use hormonal contraceptives to prevent pregnancy," the blog writes. According to the blog, "The ICW is pushing for more research on the subject and increased communication to explain the risks involved to potential users of hormonal contraceptives" and "'urgently' demanded that the WHO correct the note for media the WHO released along with the technical statement, calling it inconsistent with the findings of the technical review panel" (Mazzotta, 2/28).