Home » About Microbicides » More on Microbicides
More on Microbicides
On this page, you will find:
- Would a microbicide eliminate the need for condoms?
- Would a microbicide protect against all STIs?
- What if a women wants to get pregnant?
- Would microbicides be safe?
- Would men benefit from microbicides as well?
- Who is working on microbicides research and development?
- Why do we need microbicides if we will eventually have an HIV-vaccine?
Would a microbicide eliminate the need for condoms?
No. When used consistently and correctly, male or female condoms are likely to provide better protection against HIV and STIs than microbicides, so they will still be the preferred option. But for people who cannot or will not use condoms, and particularly for women whose partners refuse condoms, using microbicides can save lives and have a substantial impact on the HIV epidemic. In fact, researchers developed a mathematical model that shows that if even a small proportion of women in lower income countries used a 60% efficacious microbicide in half the sexual encounters where condoms are not used, 2.5 million HIV infections could be averted over 3 years.
Article: 
Shifts in condom use following microbicides introduction: should we be concerned? AIDS (Volume 17:1227-1237), May 23, 2002
Would a microbicide protect against all sexually transmitted infections?
Since STIs are caused by different pathogens (some viral, some bacterial), a microbicide that works against one STI pathogen would not necessarily protect against another. Many of the microbicides currently being tested work against HIV and at least one other STI. Eventually, a product that combines different microbicides and mechanisms of action may offer a protection from a wide range of sexually transmitted infections, including HIV.
What if a woman wants to get pregnant?
Some of the microbicides being investigated prevent pregnancy and some do not. It is important to have both non-contraceptive microbicides as well as "dual-action" microbicides that prevent pregnancy and infection, so that women and couples can protect their health and still have children. This is not possible with condoms.
Would microbicides be safe?
Any new product must go through rigorous safety testing before becoming available to consumers. Health activists and researchers are working closely together to ensure that the clinical testing of microbicides is thorough and ethical. If the testing reveals limits on a product's safety (such as being safe for vaginal use but not for rectal use) this implication will have to be clearly specified on the product labelling when it becomes publicly available.
Would men benefit from microbicides as well?
Several microbicides under development are likely to be bi-directional --that is, capable of disabling HIV in vaginal secretions as well as semen. Using a bi-directional microbicide would enable an HIV positive women to protect her male partner, as well as herself, during sex. Microbicides may work for rectal use, but the safety and effectiveness of microbicides for rectal use must be established separately. Rectal safety studies of some potential microbicides are beginning. More on microbicides and men...
Who is working on microbicide research and development?
Almost all microbicide research is conducted by non-profit and academic institutions or small biotech companies. Studies are funded by charitable foundations and government grants. These public funds also support basic science, social and behavioral research, and clinical trial infrastructure that contribute to microbicide research and development. Large pharamaceutical companies have not invested significantly in this field, primarily because microbicides are a classic "public health good" which would yield tremendous benefits to society but for which the profit incentive to private investment is low. More on the economics...
Why do we need microbicides if we will eventually have an HIV-vaccine?
No one strategy or technology will "solve" the AIDS pandemic. We must employ all existing prevention strategies --such as behavior change, voluntary counselling and testing, STI diagnosis and treatment, broad access to male and female condoms, and anti-retroviral interventions-- as well as expand our repertoire of tools and technologies. Microbicides will likely be available and accessible sooner than an HIV-vaccine. Even after a safe and effective vaccine is discovered, vaccines and microbicides will have different, complementary roles to play in an integrated, multi-faceted global HIV prevention strategy.
For an one pager of this Q&A on microbicides, visit our 'Download Materials' and check out FS#2 - Frequently asked questions US English - English - French - Spanish - Russian
