Title

Sexual and reproductive health and HIV prevention

Code

WESY01

Session Type

Symposia Session

Venue

Casa del Diezmo 1 y 2

Date Time

Wednesday 24 July, 11:00 - 12:30

Co-Chairs:

Saiqa Mullick, Wits Reproductive Health Institute, South Africa
Valdiléa G. Veloso, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro (FIOCRUZ), Brazil

This session will highlight the sexual and reproductive health (SRH) needs of people at risk of acquiring HIV, and will explore best practices in integrating appropriate HIV programming within SRH services. The session will examine data on prevalence and incidence of STIs in the context of PrEP and data on drug-drug interactions between hormones and PrEP and HIV risk. It will also provoke discussion on the safety of drugs in pregnancy and how to weigh risks.

11:00 WESY0101	Introduction

11:05 WESY0102	STIs in the era of PrEP Connie Celum, University of Washington, United States	Slides

11:20 WESY0103	Understanding drug-drug interactions between exogenous hormones and PrEP Peter Anderson, University of Colorado, United States	Slides

11:35 WESY0104	Contraception and HIV: Update on the evidence and implications for programmes Jared Baeten, University of Washington, Seattle, United States	Slides

11:50 WESY0105	ART for prevention in women of childbearing age: Issues to consider Landon Myer, University of Cape Town, South Africa	Slides

12:05 WESY0106	Questions and answers

12:25 WESY0107	Closing remarks

AUTHOR

Nicolette Naidoo

SUMMARY

This session highlighted SRH needs of people at risk of HIV and focused on integrating HIV programming within SRH services. In the context of PrEP, data was presented on STI incidence, drug-drug interactions and the association of hormones and HIV risk, contraception and HIV, and safety of drugs in pregnancy.

HIGHLIGHTS

Connie Cellum presented data on the incidence of STIs in PrEP trials and outlined 5 priorities: Moving beyond syndromic management; more sensitive and point-of-care tests; integrate PrEP with SRH services; expedited partner treatment; innovative STI interventions and the HIV vaccine. Peter Anderson presented data from pilot studies on DDIs between exogenous hormones used for gender affirmation and PrEP conclude that more research is needed involving trans populations. Jared Baeten presented the ECHO results, stressing that although HIV incidence was high, increased access to contraceptive methods must be prioritized. In addition, HIV prevention for women should increase at scale; integration between HIV and Family Planning is fundamental. Landon Meyer presented data weighed-risks for prevention among WLHIV showing food fortification a promising and scalable approach. He highlighted that WLHIV on ART reporting unplanned pregnancies have worse ART outcomes and that reducing unintended pregnancies in women using DTG effectively eliminates Neural Tube Defects.

CRITICAL ASSESSMENT

This session was critical to understanding the intersection of HIV prevention and SRH. Key insights into how to translate evidence into programming made the session practical for program implementers – this level of translational science is needed.