Vaginal gel reduces risk of HIV
Women who use an antiretroviral microbicide gel are significantly less likely to become infected with HIV during sex, a major new study has found.
The findings were presented at the International Aids Conference in Vienna by scientists at the Centre for the Aids Programme of Research in South Africa (Caprisa).
The gel contains a drug called tenofovir, which prevents HIV from growing inside human cells and is already used in pill form to treat HIV.
Scientists have now confirmed that a topical version of the gel, which is inserted into the vagina, could play an important role in the prevention of both HIV and genital herpes.
Their study involved 889 women at high risk of HIV infection and found that the gel was 39 per cent effective at reducing their risk of HIV during sex and 51 per cent effective at preventing genital herpes.
Experts claim that widespread use of the gel could prevent over half a million new HIV infections in South Africa alone over the next ten years.
Co-principal investigator Dr Quarraisha Abdool Karim said that the gel 'could fill an important HIV prevention gap by empowering women who are unable to successfully negotiate mutual faithfulness or condom use with their male partners'.
The expert noted that women in South Africa 'bear the brunt of this devastating disease' and claimed that the gel could 'alter the course of the HIV epidemic'.
Dr Anthony Fauci, director of the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said that the study 'marks a significant milestone, both for the microbicide research field and HIV prevention as a whole'.
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