Women using an intrauterine device are not at increased risk for acquisition or persistence of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, a recent study found, and device use is safe among women with HPV infections and at risk for HPV acquisitions. This according to a cohort study of 676 sexually active young women from October 2000 to June 2014 that evaluated the association between intrauterine device use and cervical high-risk HPV acquisition and clearance. Researchers found:

• 85 women used an intrauterine device at some time during follow-up.

• Among 14,513 study visits, women reported intrauterine device use at 505 visits.
• After adjusting for behavioral confounders, there was no association observed between intrauterine device use and/or HPV acquisition (HR, 0.50) or clearance of HPV infection (HR, 1.44).