DEVELOPMENT OF A VAGINAL SPERMICIDE AND MICROBICIDE TO PREVENT PREGNANCY AND TRANSMISSION OF HIV/AIDS

摘要

A safe and easy to use substance that would reliably protect the vagina from HIV infection and prevent pregnancy would be a great empowerment to women. Historical evidence from the Mediterranean region shows that lemon juice was once widely used as a contraceptive in the vagina. In addition, it is reported that Casanova advocated the use of half a lemon as a contraceptive which many people believe led to today's cervical caps and diaphragms. We have carried out preliminary studies which show that administration of neat lemon juice into the baboon vagina lowers the vaginal pH with the resultant adverse effects on ejaculated baboon sperm. In order to evaluate the safety, efficacy and acceptability of lemon juice as a contraceptive (Spermicide) and/or Viruside to HIV, we have developed a vaginal gel which incorporates neat lemon juice. We shall examine the effect of this vaginal gel on HIV infection and fertility in preclinical studies using baboon model and in clinical studies in human.