Advocating for Rectal Microbicides and Safe Lubricants

I would love a microbicide gel. But right now, even cheap water-based lubes are simply NOT available in many settings. So what would be the case with a specially formulated gel? Of course, something to consider is that in some of our countries, something that “promotes homosexuality” like a rectal microbicide for anal sex, God forbid, might be banned before it is even actually produced! But, the biggest advantage with a rectal microbicide is that most of us need a lubricant for anal sex. Even if we despise condoms, we just can’t do without lubrication. We love the pleasure of sex, not pain. So combining a microbicide and lubrication in the same product in our pockets or bedside table is a no-brainer. We would use it. It would be fun. We would even forget that it is a medicine—it’s just a lube, and lube is good with sex. –Dr. Paul Semugoma, HIV and LGBT activist, IRMA member, Uganda