A New Microbicide Gel Helps Block HIV

HIV can't be cured, but new products, like microbicides, are being developed to help protect against infection.

What are microbicides?

Microbicides are substances that come in a lube-like gel, film, or cream (think KY or Astroglide) that can be applied in and around the rectum before and after anal sex to help prevent HIV transmission.

Where can I get a microbicide?

Unfortunately, scientists are still experimenting with microbicides. According to the Global Campaign for Microbicides, researchers are looking at "more than 50 product leads, including about a dozen that have proven safe and effective in animals and are now being tested in people."

How close are we?

A safe and effective microbicide could be years away, but a study presented by CAPRISA at the 18th International AIDS Conference in Vienna in the summer of 2010 gave new hope that HIV-blocking microbicides are on the horizon.

In a clinical study, roughly half of 900 Black South African women were given a HIV-microbicide gel. The women used a tampon-like applicator to insert the retroviral drug Tenofovir into the vagina 12 hours before and 12 hours after sex. The other half were given a placebo gel. In the most promising microbicide results to date, Tenofovir reduced HIV incidence by up to 54 percent in the women who used it.

Promising results, but what's next?

Of course, more trials and studies are needed. For instance, scientists will have to try the gel on a larger sample of women and test for its use anally. They also have to figure out why the gel is less effective after 18 months of use. Still, progress is being made on the development of products that can be used in addition to condoms and other safer sex practices to help stop HIV transmission.