Regular male condoms require the male partner's approval, something
the gel attempts to avoid the need for.
Scientists at the University of Utah have developed what they call a "molecular condom"-- specifically designed to help women in impoverished areas of the world protect themselves from HIV.
The "condom" comes in liquid/gel form, which a woman can insert into her vagina before sex-- with or without the knowledge of her partner. On contact with semen, the gel becomes semi-solid ("forming a mesh of 'crosslinked' molecules"), and stops HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) from getting through the vaginal walls. The virus, then, will eventually be deactivated, from remaining in the acidic vagina and the gel for too long.
"We did it to develop technologies that can enable women to protect themselves against HIV without approval of their partner," [Professor Patrick Kiser] adds. "This is important - particularly in resource-poor areas of the world like sub-Sahara Africa and south Asia where, in some age groups, as many as 60 percent of women already are infected with HIV. In these places, women often are not empowered to force their partners to wear a condom.
The gel seems promising, although since it works with pH (of the vagina, and then the semen), I'm sure abnormal pH levels (due to infections, etc) have to be taken into consideration for it to function consistently.
If successful, and inexpensive enough to distribute regularly, the "molecular condom" could prove to be an effective way of helping to prevent the further transmission of HIV.
More about HIV/AIDS from Medical News Today.
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