July 2002
Microbicides…a women’s second best
friend.
Microbicides are compounds designed to reduce the risk of
sexually transmitted diseases and infections. In topical forms like lubricating
gels, foam and perhaps suppositories, Microbicides could substantially reduce
the transmission of HIV and many other STD’s through the vagina or rectum.
Condoms are still the most effective weapons in the prevention of infection (it
is obviously safest to keep viruses and germs out of your body completely).
Microbicides can give women and receptive partners support to ensure their own
safety when negotiating the use of a condom is difficult or impossible. One of
the most appealing and useful aspects of Microbicides is that they could be
used by an individual without the consent or knowledge of their partner(s).
This aspect is very important in cultures or places where women have little say
or choice in sexual behavior. It is estimated that 15,000 people become
infected with HIV each day worldwide and most are by sexual contact.
Microbicides could do a lot to help reduce this horrible statistic.
Basically, there are two different ways a microbicide
product can work. One is to reduce the transmission risk by killing or
inactivating the viruses or germs present in the seminal or vaginal fluids. The
other way focuses on reducing the ability of HIV and other STDs to enter the
blood stream, acquisition risk. An example of a product that would reduce
transmission risk is the Tenofovir gel or lube. In this form it will hopefully
inactivate any HIV that enters the vagina or rectum. A “Phase I”
trial of this microbicide gel, developed by the reformulation of the HIV
medication, Tenofovir, has just been announced. This is very exciting because
it is the first microbicide that contains an antiretroviral agent. Tenofovir
has the ability to enter infected and uninfected cells. This will mean that if
HIV comes in contact with an uninfected T-Cell, then Tenofovir will be there to
prevent the virus from replicating. If it is unable to reproduce, it is unable
to cause the infection. Another extremely good characteristic of the drug,
Tenofovir, is its potent activity against many drug resistant strains of HIV.
An example of an acquisition risk product is Pro2000. There is evidence that it
prevents the HIV virus, the herpes virus and bacterial STD’s from
attaching to cell walls. A larger trial of this product is being set up.
Another leading product in acquisition risk reduction is Carraguard. It is
believed to be capable of reducing the risks of HIV, gonorrhea and HPV
infection (genital warts). Large-scale trials of this product will start next
year. Keep in touch with your local ACTU’s for trial participation and
enrollment. We have the updates of local trails here at BABES also, so check
the bulletin board when you come in.
Erica PS: A women’s first best friend is her dog!
Los Microbicidas son buenos amigos de nosotras….
Los Microbicidas son componentes diseñados para
reducir el riesgo de contraer enfermedades venereas e infecciones. Asi como los
supositorios y lubricantes estos Microbicidas estan hechos para reducir
subtancialmente la transmision del VIH y ETS durante el sexo vaginal o rectal.
Hay que tener en cuenta que los condones son y seran
siempre la mejor forma de proteccion contra las ETS y el VIH. Microbicidas
pueden ser de gran ayuda cuando el uso de preservativos sea dificil o imposible
y este es uno de los aspectos mas importantes del uso del Microbicida ya que
puede ser usado sin que la otra persona se de cuenta. Esto ayudaria muchisimo a
las mujeres que tienen pocas opciones o poca ayuda en ciertas partes del mundo
ya sea por cuestiones culturales, religiosas o de simple habito.
Alrededor de 15,000 personas contraen el virus del VIH
diariamente en el mundo y la mayoria de ellos lo contraen mediante contacto
sexual; el uso de Microbicidas ayudaria a reducir esta horrible estadistica.
Hay dos formas en las que las mujeres pueden ser
beneficiadas por estos productos:
- La primera : Reduce el riesgo de transmision
exterminando o inactivando los virus o germenes que pudieran estar presente en
los fluidos seminales o vaginales.
La Segunda: Reduce la habilidad del VIH o de las ETS de
entrar al sistema sanguineo, y consecuentemente reduce el riesgo de
adquisicion.
Un producto que reduciria el riesgo de transmision y que
actualmente se encuentra en estudios clinicos es el lubricante de Tenofovir,
como sabemos el Tenofovir es unos de los antiretrovirales que se usan para
combatir el VIH, este lubricante protegeria la vagina o el recto durante el
penetramiento sexual, este antiretroviral tambien tiene el poder de entrar a
las celulas ya esten infectadas o no, lo que quiere decir que defenderia a las
celulas sanas en caso de que el virus tratara de entrar.
Otra buena caracteristica de esta medicina es que puede
combatir distintos tipos de virus VIH, por ejemplo el producto PRO 2000 no
permite que el VIH, el virus de herpes o los ETS bacteriales se peguen a las
paredes de la celula, evitando que esta se infecte; otro producto, el
Carraguard es capaz de reducir el riesgo de VIH, Gonorrea y condiloma. Estos
dos ultimos productos se encuentran en etapas de estudio.
Para mas informacion llamar a Michele a ‘BABES’
al 206-720-5566
PD: ¡El major amigo de las mujeres es el perro!
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