News / Health
New contraceptive to protect women from HIV
06 Mar 2014 at 12:13hrs | Views
A new contraceptive promises to protect women from both pregnancy and HIV.
The ring-shaped device releases controlled doses of one drug to guard against HIV and herpes, and another to prevent pregnancy.
It lasts for up to three months and is designed to help women in the world's least developed countries, where contraception is not readily available.
Researcher prof Patrick Kiser billed it as 'a significant advance' but campaigners say it will need years of trials before becoming widely available.
Up to 35million people are living with HIV and Aids, two-thirds of them in sub-Saharan Africa.
The US researchers say they have cracked the problem of designing a device which can safely deliver the two vastly different drugs - enofovir and levonorgestrel - in wildly different doses.
Jason Warriner, of the Terrence Higgins Trust, welcomed the breakthrough but added: 'Our advice would be all about wearing condoms.'
The ring-shaped device releases controlled doses of one drug to guard against HIV and herpes, and another to prevent pregnancy.
It lasts for up to three months and is designed to help women in the world's least developed countries, where contraception is not readily available.
Up to 35million people are living with HIV and Aids, two-thirds of them in sub-Saharan Africa.
The US researchers say they have cracked the problem of designing a device which can safely deliver the two vastly different drugs - enofovir and levonorgestrel - in wildly different doses.
Jason Warriner, of the Terrence Higgins Trust, welcomed the breakthrough but added: 'Our advice would be all about wearing condoms.'
Source - Metro
