Women who use oral contraceptives at risk of HIV

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Johannesburg (dpa) - Women who use oral contraceptives are at as great a risk of HIV as women who have sexually transmitted illnesses, an international conference in Cape Town heard Tuesday.

Dr Julie Overbaugh of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Centre in Seattle was speaking at Microbicides 2006, an international conference of the world's top microbicides scientists.

Microbicides are intra-vaginal gels and applications which it is hoped could prevent HIV transmission to women.

Overbaugh could give no reason for the higher risk of women using hormonal contraceptives.

Microbicide research which it is believed could save the lives of millions of women - who currently experience two-thirds of all HIV infections globally - has been slow.

The conference, which is being attended by 1,200 delegates from around the world, ends Wednesday.