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Spermicide May Actually Do More Harm Than Good
Years
ago it was thought that the spermicide Nonoxynol-9 that
was added to condoms and sexual lubricants would help prevent
both unwanted pregnancies and the transmission of sexually
transmitted diseases. After a decade of research it appears
that while Nonoxynol-9 is fairly effecting at killing sperm,
it is not effective in fighting the spread of STD's, including
HIV. In fact, it may actually do more harm than good.
The
widely used spermicide Nonoxynol-9, long recommended as
a way to stop the spread of AIDS, may actually increase
the risk of catching the virus, at least among women who
use it frequently, according to the surprising findings
of a large study.
As a
result, health officials said condoms used solely to prevent
disease should not be coated with Nonoxynol-9, although
a condom with the spermicide is certainly safer than no
condom at all. And they said the spermicide should also
not be used for birth control by anyone at high risk of
catching HIV.
Nonoxynol-9
is widely used around the world for contraception, and about
one-third of lubricated condoms sold in the United States
are covered with it. Nonoxynol-9 is a detergent formulated
to kill sperm, but in the test tube it also wipes out HIV,
and many have long assumed it helps protect people from
the virus.
However,
a study on prostitutes released at the 13th International
AIDS Conference (1999) showed just the opposite: Women using
a nonoxynol-9 gel increased their risk of contracting HIV
rather than lowering it.
"It
is an understatement to say that we were extremely disappointed,"
said Dr. Lut Van Damme of the Institute of Tropical Medicine
in Antwerp, the study's director.
The
researchers now assume that Nonoxynol-9, or N-9, increases
the risk by irritating the vaginal lining, causing tears
that give the virus a way to enter the body.
Bottom
Line: Unless you are using Nonoxynol-9 exclusively for the
prevention of pregnancy and you are certain that you are
not allergic or irritated by N-9, then we suggestion that
you do not use condoms or lubricants that contain spermicide/Nonoxynol-9.
For
more information, or to purchase condoms with or without
spermicide, visit Condomania.com.
Copyright
2001 Condomania. Reprinted with permission. All rights reserved.
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