Nature Communications (Nov 2020)

Hormonal contraception alters vaginal microbiota and cytokines in South African adolescents in a randomized trial

  • Christina Balle,
  • Iyaloo N. Konstantinus,
  • Shameem Z. Jaumdally,
  • Enock Havyarimana,
  • Katie Lennard,
  • Rachel Esra,
  • Shaun L. Barnabas,
  • Anna-Ursula Happel,
  • Zoe Moodie,
  • Katherine Gill,
  • Tanya Pidwell,
  • Ulas Karaoz,
  • Eoin Brodie,
  • Venessa Maseko,
  • Hoyam Gamieldien,
  • Steven E. Bosinger,
  • Landon Myer,
  • Linda-Gail Bekker,
  • Jo-Ann S. Passmore,
  • Heather B. Jaspan

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-19382-9
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 11, no. 1
pp. 1 – 15

Abstract

Read online

Hormonal contraception may alter women’s susceptibility to HIV. Here, the authors report the results of a randomized clinical trial substudy assessing the effects of injectable Net-En, oral contraceptives (COC) and Nuvaring on vaginal microbiota and cytokines, associating COC with lower microbial diversity and Nuvaring with increased inflammation.