Misty Media Sex Blog

October 25th 2005, 12:35 Jeff Sela

The results from an experiment in South Africa indicate that circumcised men may be a bit less likely to get HIV than uncircumcised men. The study, which ran for 18 months, monitored 3,280 men, about half of whom were circumcised as adults at the start of the study. 49 of those who hadn't been circumcised got HIV, whereas only 20 of the circumcised men did. So it might help a bit, but it's far from a sure thing. Further studies are planned in other parts of Africa.

Another study is due to start soon in which African women will be given a new gel, called PRO 2000, that's meant to be smeared on the vagina before sex. They are also to use condoms, but this American gel is intended to work as a backup, preventing the HIV virus from getting in to cells if the condom fails. It's so far been tested on animals and smaller groups of women, and might help to lower the risks of getting other sexually transmitted diseases, such as herpes.