ArticleCureus2025
Efavirenz-Based Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy Disrupts Folliculogenesis: Evidence From 48 Women of Reproductive Age.
Article in Cureus, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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15 authors.
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Abstract
introductionInterventions to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV have led to a low vertical transmission rate and improved reproductive outcomes for women living with HIV. There are genuine concerns about the long-term effect of antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) on the future reproductive function of females, as female rodent models have shown impaired folliculogenesis when treated with contemporary ARVs. There is a need to investigate the effect of contemporary ARVs on the ovarian reserve of patients receiving ARVs.
methodsThis cross-sectional study was conducted on women between the reproductive age of 15 and 45 years, forming three study categories. Group 1 comprised HIV-positive patients already on efavirenz-based antiretroviral therapy. Group 2 comprised HIV-positive patients who were naïve to ARVs at the time of recruitment. Group 3 comprised HIV-negative women within the reproductive age range not on ARVs (controls). We used t-test and ANOVA for statistical analysis. The alpha level was significant if the p-value was <0.05.
resultsThe average value of follicle-stimulating hormone was significantly higher in the HIV-positive group receiving ARVs, compared to the control group (p = 0.039). The average value of luteinizing hormone was significantly higher in the HIV-positive group receiving ARVs when compared to the HIV-negative group (p = 0.014). The antral follicular count was significantly reduced in the group receiving ARVs, compared to HIV-positive individuals naïve to ARVs and HIV-negative controls (p = 0.009).
conclusionEvidence from this study suggests that efavirenz-based antiretroviral medication disrupts follicular development.
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