Preeclampsia is a pregnancy-specific syndrome, it occurs in approximately 5-10% of all pregnancies and the etiology remains unknown, but the primigravida adolescent as such as multigravid older women whom have conceived with a new sexual partner have a greater risk, this has been associated also with the use of barrier
contraceptive methods that prevent exposure to sperm with the endometrial cavity. An
immunological factor has been suspected because fetal
antigen's could cause antigenic reaction with the maternal immunological apparatus, for first exposure at these
antigens, since the fetus is considered like an allotransplantation. This is supported in some studies that report that the use of
condoms, spermicides and withdrawal are associated with developing of
preeclampsia in subsequent pregnancy, and another hand indicate at cohabitation preceded for long period, practiced oral sex and use of
contraceptive methods that permit exposure to sperm viable with uterus decreased the prevalence of
preeclampsia. To test this hypothesis, we initially used data from two groups of pregnant women, comparing the
contraceptive and reproductive history of 73 pregnant women with
preeclampsia and 70 pregnant women without
preeclampsia. The odds ratio for
preeclampsia indicated a 2.52-fold (with 95% confidence interval, 1.17 to 5.44, p < 0.05), increased risk of
preeclampsia for users of barrier
contraceptives compared with women using nonbarrier
contraceptives methods. Other variables like socio-demographic and obstetrics analysis were not different between both groups. This study suggest that nonbarrier
contraceptive methods or the exposure of paternal spermatic
antigens is protective against development of
preeclampsia. Further immunological studies are necessary to determine the role of
contraception methods and
preeclampsia.