Study shows that Vaginal Gel Reduces HIV Risk!
 
We are so relieved to see that after several years of testing microbicides that a gel actually is working to reduce the risk of contracting HIV in women.
A study in South Africa showed that a gel containing Tenofovir, an antiretroviral drug, reduces the risk of HIV infection by over 50%.
What makes this microbicide so exciting is that it is a simple gel that gives the woman the control over infection, if a condom is not an option.
In the 900 women in the study, 1/2 of the participants were given a gel and instructed to insert it before and after intercourse. The other 1/2 were given a placebo.
 
After 2.5 years of monthly HIV testing, 89 of the 900 women tested positive for HIV.  Of these 9.1% were in the placebo group, while only 5.6 % were in the Tenofovir gel group.  It also worked to protect the women against Herpes. 
When is it available?
This study has many people very excited and it has jumped to the top of the international research agenda.
"I think the big challenge is to get confirmatory studies done quickly, so we can have no delays in getting a product to women," said Catherine Hankins the chief scientific officer of the United Nations' AIDS agency, UNAIDS. She speculated that would take two years at least.