Don't Tell Me...

This article is long, but needs to be & it should be read.  It details a possible link between the injectable contraceptive, Pfizer's Depo-Provera & the transmission of HIV.   It may be this hormone based medication exacerbates  the situation & leads to up to 2X the possibility for transmission of the virus.

The problem here is the data concerning this matter has been gathered via observation & not clinical trials.   That doesn't mean that the data is wrong, but it does mean it hasn't been proven to any significant level.  

Observational data led to the ice cream causes murder statement.  It said the more ice cream sold, the more murders that happened.   While this is true.  The murder rates weren't altered by the ice cream sales.  Instead both the murder rates & ice cream sales were both influenced by the same phenomenon, heat.  The hotter weather led to higher rates of violent crimes & ice cream sales.

Scientists are worried this accusation against Depo-Provera could be something similar.   The rub lies in the fact no one wants to fund a study to prove or discount this hypothesis.   Why?

If it's proven, then Depo will be impacted in a very negative manner.  It could mean many women's health groups have had an indirect part of spreading HIV.  It could take out a  cost effective & efficient means of birth control in poorer regions.   It would also impact the stocks of the companies making & distributing the medication.  

So far, this isn't a case of intentional pharmaceutical wrong doing.  However, if at any time this is proven & the people who could've funded this research refused, then that would be a different matter.  It would seem Pfizer would want this handled.  However, if they already know the answer, then it could be they're trying to go as far as they can before the sale of Depo-Provera is blocked.

I understand this a very widely used contraceptive.  However, if there is a possibility it's doubling chances for HIV infections, then people need answers, not avoidance strategies.   The charity groups seem worried about their image, the governments are worried about an increase in children being born & Pfizer is worried about the bottom line.  Who's worried about these women?

Even if it's proven to double the transmission rates, doesn't mean the sales or usage would stop.  It would just mean people had to be made aware of the possibility,  That isn't too much to ask of Pfizer. 

Cya...