I n sub-Saharan Africa, almost 60% of HIV infections are among women [1], and the number of new HIV infections in women worldwide continues to escalate. The high incidence of HIV in many African countries provides the optimum environment for research on technologies that could prevent women from becoming infected, including microbicides. In this article, we discuss the recent highly publicised ...

©FSRH J Fam Plann Reprod Health Care 2008: 34(2) Background Itching following contact with latex condoms is a familiar problem in contraceptive services, and popular textbooks still maintain that it is frequently an excuse for avoiding condoms, or that spermicide is to blame.1 If a patient experiences symptoms on contact with other latex items as well as condoms then it would be reasonable to s...

BACKGROUND Sperm immobilizing activity and plausible mechanism of action of Chenopodium album seed decoction (CAD) have been elucidated in our earlier studies. The present study has been carried out to explore the safety standards of CAD along with microbicidal properties as prerequisite for its use as a topically applicable vaginal contraceptive. METHODS The safety standards of CAD were asse...

Objective: There is an urgent need for safe, effective and acceptable vaginal barrier methods for the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), including HIV. A variety of existing spermicides have the potential to be used both for prevention of STDs and unwanted pregnancy. Unfortunately, very little is known about formulation preferences and the desirable characteristics of vaginal p...

WE WELCOME THE INCREASING INTEREST IN the use of microbicides to fight HIV (“Raising new barriers against HIV infection,” R. S. Trager, News Focus, 3 Jan., p. 39). The need for a female-controlled method of HIV prevention to supplement male options (condoms and male circumcision) has been apparent for 20 years. Sadly, we have to agree with the judgment expressed in Trager’s article by Zeda Rose...

BACKGROUND Vasectomy is an increasingly popular and effective family planning method. A variety of vasectomy techniques are used worldwide, including vas occlusion techniques (excision and ligation, thermal or electrocautery, and mechanical and chemical occlusion methods), as well as vasectomy with vas irrigation or with fascial interposition. Vasectomy guidelines largely rely on information fr...

For the last 40 y, substantial evidence has surfaced on the hormone-like effects of environmental chemicals such as pesticides and industrial chemicals in wildlife and humans. The endocrine and reproductive effects of these chemicals are believed to be due to their ability to: (1) mimic the effect of endogenous hormones, (2) antagonize the effect of endogenous hormones, (3) disrupt the synthesi...

Background: Preordinate attitudes and beliefs about contraception may influence acceptance or rejection of a particular method. Purpose: We examined the attitudes about contraception methods held by undergraduate students (N=792) at two large southeastern universities in the United States. Methods: Twelve methods were rated on 40 semantic differential scales. Means of the scale sum scores for m...

new method has arrived, we know more about how to optimise treatment, and new distribution channels are opening up. Combined with the political will, these advances should significantly reduce the burden of unwanted pregnancies. One of the important new ingredients is the WHO trial demonstrating the superior efficacy of levonorgestrel used on its own; the pregnancy rate with levonorgestrel alon...

new method has arrived, we know more about how to optimise treatment, and new distribution channels are opening up. Combined with the political will, these advances should significantly reduce the burden of unwanted pregnancies. One of the important new ingredients is the WHO trial demonstrating the superior efficacy of levonorgestrel used on its own; the pregnancy rate with levonorgestrel alon...