Vaginal Gel Blocks HIV

Various tests conducted scientists to create a vaginal cream that can fend off the HIV virus, ended in failure. Now the experts had been due the middle of testing a drug used to treat HIV as a prevention drug, in ways embedded in vaginal gels and vaginal contraceptive ring shape.

Way similar to the method of drug to freshen breath or allergic drugs, but was applied in the vagina. Drug that was later given the name of microbicides will be mainly marketed in developing countries, because usually the men are lazy to use a condom.

For two decades, scientists have been struggling to create HIV-prevention drug that is strong enough. Early studies was tested on women in South Asia such as the vaginal gel containing the AIDS drug tenofovir, but the new result will be known next July.

Antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) is a revolution in the treatment of AIDS, so that a person with HIV can live longer. These drugs also reduce the risk of virus transmission from pregnant women to their babies. Therefore the experts assess if the drug is consumed every day can give the effect of prevention, either in men or women.

Dozen research has also been done on the vulnerable population of people infected. Usually the drugs used dalah tenofovir because it has lower side effects than other antiretroviral drugs.

The problem is, every day of taking the drug can result in resistance (drug resistance), especially when someone forgot to take her medicine. This has sparked controversy.

Research on HIV prevention gel actually started in 1994. At first, scientists know that the cells on the surface of the vagina is not the initial target HIV because the virus rapidly into the cell layers.

Studies in monkeys showed a small population of cells “compiler” that produces signs several days before the virus ready to spread. Drugs such as tenofovir inhibits HIV infection despite multiply into the body.According Dr.Salim Abdool Karim, of the Centre for AIDS Programme of Research of South Africa, the concentration of tenofovir in the vaginal tissue will be higher when administered with gel rather than pills.

Learning from the success of contraception, are now experts who develop tenofovir in other methods, which are easily dissolved into the vaginal lining, so you will not see couples. In addition it also made the vaginal ring are coated so that it can survive long tenofovir. Available also for gay men, in the form of tenofovir for the rectum.