Scientists say vaginal gel cuts HIV-infections by half

[American]

Link

19 July 2010 Last updated at 16:45 ET

A vaginal gel has significantly cut the rate of women contracting HIV from infected partners in an experiment in South Africa, researchers said.
They said the gel, containing Aids drug tenofovir, cut infection rates among 889 women by 50% after one year of use, and by 39% after two and a half years.
If the results are confirmed it would be the first time that a microbicidal gel has been shown to be effective.
Such a gel could be a defence for women whose partners refuse to wear condoms.
New ways of curbing the spread of HIV are badly needed, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, where nearly 60% of those infected with the virus are women.
Many women are often forced to take part in unsafe sex, and are biologically more vulnerable to HIV infection than men, making a gel they apply an attractive option.

A very interesting and potentially positive development.

 

[Aunt Spiker]

Yeah - that's very promising.

Long term side effects? I'd hate for people to be spared of aids and just ushered into cancer.

 

[American]

Where do you come up with cancer?

 

[Hoplite]

Where do you come up with cancer?

He was merely asking about any potential side effects, citing cancer as an example of a possible one.

 

[Aunt Spiker]

He was merely asking about any potential side effects, citing cancer as an example of a possible one.

Yeah, I'm pondering what possible problems might come from it. . .the only way to find out is to do more testing.

 

[spud_meister]

thats good news, and you could incorporate the application of the gel into foreplay

 

[Hoplite]

thats good news, and you could incorporate the application of the gel into foreplay

Turning it into a lubricant would be a great application

 

[Gipper]

What's foreplay?