The new invisible condom sounds too good to be true. Let’s hope it’s not.
We humans need all the help we can get when it comes to preventing the spread of HIV and unwanted pregnancy. So bring on more testing.
Haven’t heard of it? According to the Canadian publication, The Ottawa Citizen, the invisible condom is a gel made of microbicides. The microbicides contain chemicals that kill sperm, fungi, bacteria, herpes, Chlamydia, gonorrhea and viruses such as HIV.
The publication also maintains the gel works as a lubricant and, unlike spermicides, won’t cause allergic reactions or toxicity.
Reuters brought this research to the forefront on Feb. 11. Headlines explained a recent experiment found the gel to protect female monkeys from HIV.
The future looks brighter for women. Women account for half of all new cases of HIV infection, according to the United Nations. In many societies, women cannot demand their partners wear protection. This discovery may give them a hidden defense.
These findings are even more pertinent to the African countries. Currently, Africans make up 70 percent of the world’s AIDS victims, the World Health Organization says.
The Ottawa Citizen cites two more areas of such research. A pharmaceutical company in San Diego is testing a strain of corn with human antibodies for genital herpes.
The Baltimore Company is studying Buffer Gel, which is shown to be effective against herpes, HIV and HPV (human papilloma virus).
Have you heard of HPV? I feel embarrassed because I haven’t. Upon doing research, I feel the need to share.
From Planned Parenthood Federation of America, I learned HPV is the most common STD in America. More than 20 million have it, and most don’t even know it. This disease often increases the risk of cancers in the reproductive organs and infertility in women.
Even scarier, at Medlineplus.gov, I found young, sexually active people are at greater risk. Some forms of this disease cause warts, while others show no symptoms.
Not only that, condoms don’t protect against the infection. While no cure is available, treatment is.
I see one small problem with the invisible condom idea. I know not ALL guys lie. However, some may claim, “Sure, baby, I’m protected. It’s just invisible.”
Sexual partners need some proof this stuff is on and applied correctly. I suggest the gel could come in various colors and imaginative scents.
Don’t make me get up on my soap box about the horror of AIDS again. Get the word out. The more interest we show in the research of microbicides, the more grants and funding will be given.
Researchers claim the invisible condom will be on shelves within 10 years, hopefully sooner.