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Microbicides - substances which in theory will stop HIV infection when applied by a woman to herself before sex - are showing promise. An old idea for preventing HIV infection has been given a second life and a recent conference in Australia showcased a lot of active research which is bearing fruit. With no vaccine, the main challenges in HIV prevention are to stop blood transmission primarily through dirty injecting equipment and secondly infection through sex. And while some cling to the belief that abstinence is a viable goal, realists focus on safe sex largely by using condoms. But condom use is patchy and relies on men putting them on. Which is why microbicides have appeal. These are applied by the woman to herself before sex and in theory will stop the virus. There was a bad experience a few years ago when one such microbicide actually increased risk but recent developments are more promising including an Australian microbicide which uses an electric charge to repel the HIV. Given that a vaccine is nowhere on the horizon, people at risk of HIV especially in poorer countries need anything they can get and not rely on men donning their raincoats.
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