Menstrual disturbance associated with HIV/AIDS

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    Do women with HIV/AIDS on anti-retroviral therapy have a lower incidence of symptoms associated with menstrual dysfunction?

  • IRAS ID

    157783

  • Contact name

    Dharani Hapangama

  • Contact email

    dharani@liverpool.ac.uk

  • Sponsor organisation

    Liverpool Women's NHS Foundation Trust

  • Research summary

    Survival with HIV/AIDS has markedly improved by the combination of drugs called HAART (highly active antiretroviral therapy). HAART has been shown to enhance events seen in biological aging, with illnesses associated with aging appearing to occur prematurely in HIV/AIDS patients. The specific component of HAART that causes features resembling ageing are thought to be nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) which has anti-telomerase activity.
    Recent studies from our team have highlighted the involvement of endometrial telomerase activity in endometrial regeneration and endometriosis (disease where tissue similar to the lining of the womb (endometrium) is outside the cavity of the womb) (Hapangama et al 2008, Valentijn et al 2013). Ongoing studies are exploring the use of telomerase inhibitors in the treatment of heavy periods and endometriosis. It has become apparent, while searching to examine the incidence of menstrual dysfunction and symptoms associated with endometriosis in women taking NRTIs, that the large female population seen in the gynaecological clinics of Liverpool women’s hospital include a disproportionately small number of women with common endometriosis associated benign gynaecological symptoms. This highlights the possibility that women taking NRTIs may not suffer with menstrual bleeding irregularities or endometriosis associated symptoms due to the (beneficial) side effects of NRTIs effects on endometrial telomerase activity.
    We aim to recruit all eligible women attending specialist HIV clinic at RLUH over a year (approx.250 ). The patients will be invited to fill a questionnaire on symptoms associated with menstrual bleeding and endometriosis. There will also be a control group of women 250 attending regular GUM clinics. This information may help us to understand not only if NRTI therapy may affect endometriotic growth and so therefore could be used as a treatment, but it may expose any existing barriers that patients with HIV have about seeking treatment for common gynaecological conditions.

  • REC name

    North West - Liverpool Central Research Ethics Committee

  • REC reference

    14/NW/1289

  • Date of REC Opinion

    6 Oct 2014

  • REC opinion

    Further Information Favourable Opinion