Birth control shot increases the risk of HIV

Transitioning away from a popular contraceptive shot known as DMPA could help protect women in Sub-Saharan Africa and other high-risk regions from becoming infected with HIV, according to a research review. The predominant contraceptive in Sub-Saharan Africa is depotmedroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) -- a birth control shot administered every three months.

Human studies suggest DMPA use may raise the risk of HIV infection by 40 percent. Other forms of contraceptive shots do not show the same correlation with HIV infection. Increasing availability of contraceptives that use a different form of the female hormone progestin than the one found in DMPA could help reduce the risk of HIV transmission. In addition to these clinical studies, the review's authors examined animal, cell and biochemical research on the form of progestin used in DMPA -- medroxprogesterone acetate, or MPA.

The analysis revealed MPA acts differently than other forms of progestin used in contraceptives. MPA behaves like the stress hormone cortisol in the cells of the genital tract that can come in contact with HIV. The increased rate of HIV infection among women using DMPA contraceptive shots is likely due to multiple reasons, including decreases in immune function and the protective barrier function of the female genital tract.
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Urogenital infection can cause male infertility

Male infertility contributes to fifty percent of all infertility cases.  In 6-10% the cause is an urogenital infection. The
main cause of inflammatory disease in the male genital tract are sexually transmitted pathogens.

The diagnostic evaluation of urogenital infections in most patients with infertility is hindered by an asymptomatic primary chronic disease course.

Asymptomatic inflammatory reactions are found in 25% of men who undergo testicular biopsy for infertility.

It was discovered that after acute inflammation of the epididymis, in 10% of cases no sperm was found in the ejaculate in the long term, and in 30% the number of spermatozoa were reduced; in 60% of men affected by an infection of the epididymis, the testes were affected too.

 In such cases, testicular atrophy with permanent loss of spermatogenesis is a much feared complication.
If pathogens are detected in the male genital tract, eradicating antibiotic therapy is indicated.

 However, this dies not guarantee that the quality of sperm will not be permanently affected or that the outcome will not be infertility.

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