An aqueous douche or enema is disclosed, containing a water-soluble zinc salt at an anti-viral concentration, designed for use shortly before and/or shortly after intercourse. Unlike a lubricant for use during intercourse, this type of rinsing liquid will not contain glycerine or similar lubricating components, and will be designed to not leave behind a film-type residue. However, this type of “pericoital” rinse (i.e., intended for pre-coital or post-coital use) will leave behind positively-charged zinc ions. Due to electrostatic attraction, these Zn++ ions will cling to negatively-charged canyons and other “binding sites” in proteins that are exposed and accessible on the surfaces of cells and virus particles. The binding of Zn++ ions to negatively-charged sites in these surface proteins will alter and disrupt the ability of viruses (including herpes and HIV) to bind to and infect human cells. Accordingly, this type of rinse can reduce the risk of infection by sexually transmitted viruses, in a person who is not previously infected. In addition, due to the skin-protective properties of zinc, a pericoital rinse containing a water-soluble zinc salt can help accelerate the healing and closure of microabrasions, lesions, and other breaches or deficits in genital skin or mucous membranes, thereby further decreasing the risk of viral infections following intercourse.
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