Table 3.

Advantages and disadvantages of contraception options in HIV (Trussell, 2007).

Method	Advantages	Disadvantagesa
Condoms (male)	• STI/HIV protection	• Partner cooperation needed • Requires correct technique • Inconvenient/may interfere with sexual intercourse • Pregnancy prevention = 85%
Condoms (female)	• STI/HIV protection • Can be controlled by the woman	• Requires correct technique • Inconvenient/may interfere with sexual intercourse • Pregnancy prevention = 79% • Price and availability
Oral contraceptive pill	• Effective • Less blood loss • Can be controlled by the woman • Pregnancy prevention = 92%	• Drug-drug interactions • Possibly increased viral shedding • No STI/HIV protection
Patch, ring, injectable combination	• Effective • Less blood loss • Can be controlled by the woman • Pregnancy prevention = patch: 92%; ring: 92%	• Drug-drug interactions? • Lack of data • Increased viral shedding? • No STI/HIV protection
DMPA	• Low maintenance • Effective • Can be controlled by the woman • Pregnancy prevention = 97%	• No STI/HIV protection • Possibly increased risk of HIV acquisition
Copper intra-uterine device	• Convenient • Effective • Can be controlled by the woman • Pregnancy prevention = 99.2%	• Blood loss • Increased pelvic infection • No STI/HIV protection
Levonorgestrel-releasing intra-uterine system (LNG-IUS)	• Long lasting • Convenient • Can be controlled by the woman • Pregnancy prevention = 99.8%	• Blood loss • No STI/HIV protection • Minimal research available in HIV
Cervical barrier	• Some STI protection • Good contraceptive effectiveness if used correctly • Can be controlled by the woman • Pregnancy prevention = 84%	• Increased urinary tract infections • Requires correct technique • No STI/HIV protection
Sterilisation	• Low maintenance • Effective • Can be controlled by the woman • Pregnancy prevention = 99.5%	• Irreversible • Expensive • Invasive • No STI/HIV protection

STI, sexually transmitted infection; HIV, human immunodeficiency virus.

^aPregnancy prevention: The percentage of women who did not experience an unintended pregnancy during the first year of typical use of contraception in the USA.