Use of the Dapivirine vaginal ring for HIV-1 prevention in the periconception period does not appear to have adverse consequences on pregnancy or infant outcomes, according to a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 study published in the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes. In sub-Saharan Africa, 56% of adults living with HIV-1 are reproductive age women,2and pregnancy is a time of heightened HIV-1 risk in women in that part of the world.3,4Although monthly use of the Dapivirine vaginal ring has been shown to be safe and effective for preventing HIV-1 infection in nonpregnant reproductive-aged women,5,6its effect on pregnancy outcomes and infants is unknown.
Therefore, researchers observed 2629 sexually active women aged 18 to 45 years from Malawi, South Africa, Uganda, and Zimbabwe who were using the Dapivirine vaginal ring or placebo for HIV-1 prevention.…
