Spermicide
may actually do more harm than good
by Adam
Glickman -
Condomania Articles.
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 2003 Condomania. Reprinted with permission.
All rights reserved.
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