Jun 10, 2009 7:12 pm US/Eastern
Health Watch: Contraception That Prevents AIDS
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
As a variety of contraception options help women avoid pregnancy, most methods either fail to protect against sexually transmitted diseases like AIDS or are cumbersome to use.
But new research has resulted into an experimental contraceptive that also protects against the AIDS virus.
Drs. Brij Saxena, Mukul Singh and others at Weill Cornell Medical College recently finished research on a new contraceptive vaginal ring that protects against HIV and prevents pregnancy.
While most contraceptives, such as pills, patches, and rings are hormone-based, this flexible ring is impregnated with chemicals.
Different chemicals involved immobilize sperm, thicken cervical mucous and keep the vaginal environment acidic, which is toxic to sperm. Numerous studies have already found this ring's chemicals to be effective and non-toxic.
These chemicals are used to block potential infections.
"The amount that is released from these rings is much higher than required for killing the virus," Dr. Saxena says. "So we feel that this will be very efficient in terms of protecting the women from viral infections."
Plus, the Food and Drug Administration has recognized the chemical compounds as safe.
Dr. Singh says that it's a simple and easy procedure, which can be done at home, to insert the ring.
"It's in their own discretion, in the privacy of their own home; they can just insert it and use it. Nobody even has to know what they have," Dr. Singh says.
For local resident identified only as Kylie, the vast spread of sexually transmitted diseases alone provides a reason to try the new contraceptive.
"I think it's a really good idea because they're having so much trouble with the spread of everything and it could definitely protect everyone," she says.
Sharon, who asked only to be identified by first name, also sees the benefits, especially for those involved in unsafe sex.
"Something on the market that will help protect people who are not necessarily practicing safe sex, will be useful to anybody who'd want to try something," she says.
So far the ring has only been tried in the lab so it is still experimental. The developers are in the process of applying to the FDA for clinical trials that will test the ring's effectiveness with humans.
It will be at least a few years before it could become available.
So how would this be used and could it also protect against other sexually transmitted diseases?
The idea would be to insert the ring and it would be good for 28 days, protecting the woman against pregnancy and AIDS without having to remember a pill or use anything else and without having to talk her partner into using a condom. And while so far they've only made it with anti-HIV drugs, the researchers say there's no reason it can't be made with other meds that would protect against other sexually transmitted diseases.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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