New Vaginal Gel Reduces HIV Risk

3.08.2010 | By: P.D.

Vaginal gel is the first aid which actively encourages women to take action and protect them from HIV virus.

South African scientists have tested a vaginal gel that reduces the transmission of HIV virus by almost 50 percent. Even though the most effective protection against AIDS is definitely a condom, many men throughout world still refuse to use it.

Vaginal gel reduces the possibility of HIV transmission

Vaginal gel contains a microbicide medicine or tenofovir which diminishes the risk of infection. Microbicide substances reduce the effect of microbes - viruses and bacteria, and that is the reason for its effectiveness against HIV transmission. The study has shown that vaginal gel reduces the transmission of a virus by 50 percent in the first twelve months and by 39 percent in 30 months. The ingredients are very cheap - the price of the usual medicine and its monthly dosage is between 275€ and 2500€, while the vaginal gel costs only »a few cents«, like one of the researchers expressed himself.

The testing was done in the South African town of Durban and in the countryside. 899 women participated and they could choose among condoms, counseling and vaginal gel, all free of charge. After a three year period 98 of women were infected with virus HIV; 38 of them used the vaginal gel and 60 of them the placebo.

HIV virus in Africa

HIV virus is spread throughout the world, but sub- Saharan Africa is the area where the greatest number of people are infected. Swaziland and Botswana are at the forefront, where approx. 30 percent of the population is infected with the virus, while in South Africa »only« 12,4 percent of people are infected. Unprotected intercourse is still the main reason for transmission of the virus in this part of the world.

Vaginal gel puts the responsibility in the hands of women

The scientists who participated in the project think that this is an important discovery because it enables women to protect themselves against HIV transmission for the first time and they do not have to depend on their partner anymore. Vaginal gel also reduces the chance of genital herpes which increases the transmission of HIV infection. Even though the results show that vaginal gel is not the perfect solution, a further step has been made against the deadly virus.