Anti HIV gel cuts infection rate in half!

[Belfast-Bottom]

In recent days the BBC and various reputable scientific journals, have been carrying reports of a South African study. A gel containing an anti viral drug has been trialed on women in southern Africa. It has been found to cut their chance of hiv infection in half. It also greatly reduces their risk of contracting herpes. The gel is placed in the vagina.

Given that the trial will almost certainly have contained a high proportion of poorly educated women and given their family circumstances, it is likely that many may not have been able to use the gel 100% of the time - suggesting that the gel may be more effective if used consistently.

Will it be effective if used anally? I wonder.

Link to articles:

http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&source=hp&q=vaginal+gel+hiv&btnG=Google+Search&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=

[rawTOP]

It probably won't work anally. At least years ago I remember asking someone who was a big proponent of the microbial work whether they could do something similar for guys and the answer was that the chemistry of the ass was very different than the chemistry of the vagina. What works in one probably won't work in the other.

They're also tackling a very particular problem - the fact that in straight sex the man usually determines whether a condom is used - especially among the poor in Africa. They wanted something the woman could do for herself that would reduce the chances of infection without compromising what is often a delicate relationship between the woman and the man.

Gay men have far more autonomy than poor straight women in Africa. We make our own choices (most of the time). IMHO, it's fair that a solution was found for poor African women before they found one for us. They're at greater need/risk.

[rawbottom1963]

Well, it's unknown until tried. Damn, we need something, sooner than all these years. peace