Microbicides: Giving Women Power Over HIV/AIDS

Microbicides like a monthly vaginal ring or a single-use vaginal film or insert would address a central gap in current HIV prevention strategies: the need for a discreet tool that women can use to take charge of their own health and protect themselves from infection.

Empowering Women With HIV Prevention Tools

Research shows that antiretroviral (ARV) drugs can prevent HIV when used consistently. ARV-based microbicides may offer women new methods to help protect against HIV infection.

These products are based on the same types of ARVs now used to successfully treat HIV/AIDS and prevent mother-to-child transmission.

Complementing Existing Strategies

Microbicides would specifically address the needs of women in some of the world’s most at-risk areas and expand the HIV prevention toolkit by complementing existing methods.

These include safe-sex education, behavior change, male and female condoms, voluntary medical male circumcision, oral ARV pills where they are approved for use (known as pre-exposure prophylaxis or PrEP), and safe blood supplies.

Empowering Women, Empowering Families

Because there will be no single solution to stopping HIV, multiple prevention options are needed to achieve epidemic control. Development of safe and effective microbicides would expand the range of prevention options for women and amplify the public health impact of other prevention methods.

Ultimately, this is good news for everyone, because improving women’s sexual and reproductive health means women can lead healthier, more productive lives, which benefits their families and communities, too.