Contraception

Most contraceptive methods are used by women. Condoms are the only contraceptive designed for men to use.

Some contraceptives need to be used carefully to be effective. Condoms and Femidoms (female condoms) will only work if you remember to use them and you use them properly each time. If you are taking the contraceptive pill, you need to remember to take it every day.

Condoms and Femidoms are the only contraceptives that will also reduce the chances of HIV and sexually transmitted infections being passed on.

All types of contraception (except the diaphragm and cap) are suitable for women with HIV who are not taking treatment. Some methods are less effective if you’re taking anti-HIV drugs.

Several anti-HIV drugs interfere with the way some ‘hormonal’ contraceptives work, and the contraceptive may not be as effective as normal. This is the case for drugs in these classes: 

• The drugs efavirenz (Sustiva) and nevirapine (Viramune) in the non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTIs, non-nukes) class.
• Protease inhibitors (PIs), for example Kaletra.

Most people taking anti-HIV drugs will be taking a drug from one of these classes.

These hormonal contraceptives are less effective if you’re taking HIV treatment:

• The combined pill
• The progestogen only pill, also known as the mini-pill
• Patches – a small beige patch applied to the skin and changed once a week
• Implants – a small flexible rod inserted under the skin on the upper arm, which works for up to three years
• Vaginal rings – a small flexible ring inserted in the vagina for three weeks of the month.

There are three types of hormonal contraceptive that are just as effective if you are taking anti-HIV drugs. They are the intrauterine device (IUD), the Mirena intrauterine system (IUS) and the Depo-Provera injection.