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Can This Ring Prevent HIV?

Can This Ring Prevent HIV?

Vagring400

Yes, but don’t toss your condoms just yet, ladies.

Scientists and doctors from the University of Utah and Northwestern University have developed an intravaginal ring to protect against HIV transmission and are growing increasingly confident it can prevent HIV infection in women.
 
The small device, when inserted for about a month, successfully delivered a precise amount of the antiretroviral medicine tenofovir disoproxil fumarate, to monkeys in testing.
 
The ring’s distinctive polymer construction allows it to swell in the presence of fluid, delivering up to 1,000 times more of the drug than current intravaginal devices. The ring offers a sustained delivery method, unlike other methods that requiring daily ingestion of pills or application of topical gel prior to sex, and has been shown to block HIV.
 
The device will soon be evaluated in human trials, where 60 women will test the product. But don’t toss your condoms just yet, says researcher Patrick F. Kiser, Ph.D (pictured). He says “moving the ring to the market will take several years.”
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Michael Regula

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Ryan is the Digital Director of The Advocate Channel, and a graduate of NYU Tisch's Department of Dramatic Writing. She is also a member of GALECA, the LGBTQ+ society of entertainment critics. While her specialties are television writing and comedy, Ryan is a young member of the LGBTQ+ community passionate about politics and advocating for all.

Ryan is the Digital Director of The Advocate Channel, and a graduate of NYU Tisch's Department of Dramatic Writing. She is also a member of GALECA, the LGBTQ+ society of entertainment critics. While her specialties are television writing and comedy, Ryan is a young member of the LGBTQ+ community passionate about politics and advocating for all.