Ground-breaking gamechanger for women's health

At the International AIDS Conference in Vienna promising results were shared from a clinical trial of a microbicide to be used by women for HIV prevention.  This is great news indeed.  Since the beginning of the epidemic, one of the frustrating things has been that a woman has no way to protect herself from HIV infection without depending on her partner in some way.  All three methods of HIV prevention require some degree of cooperation from her guy:

• condom use - ultimately it's his call; 
• mutual monogamy between two HIV-negative partners  - again, she can be as monogamous as she wants, but it won't necessarily protect her if he is not - and vice versa, of course, though sadly the monogamy deck is stacked against her in many cultures and countries where there is high HIV prevalence; and 
• abstinence  - well, we all know how that goes! - not only is it exceedingly challenging between two people with any sort of chemistry and hormones, it's really a non-starter for many woman (and of course, in the case of rape, coerced and otherwise involuntary sex).  In places like Africa, where HIV prevalence is high, partner communication is low, and pressure for married couples to make babies is strong, the notion of refusing sex or insisting on condom use, even if she perhaps suspects he may be infected or at risk, in a marriage setting just won't fly

So where does that leave a woman in Johannesburg where HIV infection is 18% (or anywhere else for that matter)?  Up the creek without a paddle in terms of taking control of her health and life, with any sort of viable option to protect herself from HIV infection.  An effective microbicide could change that.

Clinical trials for microbicides (vaginal gels that can be applied to neutralize the virus and protect from infection) have been going on for years have had mixed results, at best. The news of this study is ground-breaking and could change the HIV prevention landscape.   In this particular clinical trial in South Africa, prevention of transmission os not 100% failsafe, only significantly reduced.  Researchers want to improve the efficacy, continue with additional trials, and if viable, get this thing to market ASAP.

Fabulous news! (Sometimes I miss practicing public health).