Science To The Rescue

There have been many advances in the area of contraception and STI-prevention since the early days of the first birth control pills and diaphragms. We have oral and injectible medicines, physical barriers, and IUDs that help women (and men) protect themselves from unwanted pregnancies and diseases. Although I am not a science person whatsoever, I found this new breakthrough very interesting.

Scientists at University of Utah have designed what they are calling a "molecular condom." This breakthrough was first made in 2006 and has gone through a massive redesign to come to the product that they have presented today.

To use this "molecular condom," a women would insert a vaginal gel that turns semisolid in the presence of semen before sex, trapping the AIDS virus particles in a microscopic mesh so they can't infect vaginal cells.

The goal of this new product is to help in the prevention of the spread of HIV so women can protect themselves without having to try and persuade their partners to do it, like with normal male-use condoms.

Another goal for this product is to target some of the most under-resourced countries like sub-Sahara Africa and south Asia where the rate of infection is as high as 60% in women.

So what does this means for women like you and me? Well the "molecular condom" is still going through testing and clinical trials and probably still has several years before it will be available to the general public. However, this does give women more control over their own bodies and reproductive health, which is another step in the right direction. This new form of protection gives women more option in their arsenal of disease prevention and looks to help out those women who need more protection the most.

Photo courtesy of ynse on flikr.com