HIV prevention

New anal condom being tested

Graham Stocks — Thu, 30 May 2013 18:51:14 -0700

A new condom designed exclusively for anal intercourse is currently being tested. Pending large-scale clinical trials and FDAThe U.S. Department of Health and Human Services agency responsible for ensuring the safety and effectiveness of all drugs, biologics, vaccines, and medical devices, including those used in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of HIV infection, AIDS, and AIDS-related opportunistic infections. The FDA also works with the blood banking industry to safeguard the nation's blood supply. The Australian equivalent is the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). approval, it is expected to hit the market in early 2015.

The bonus of the anal condom is that it can be worn internally.

You want that wrapped?

Graham Stocks — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 15:54:52 -0800

The sort of sex that positive men do together is not something that gets talked about too often.

But Positive Life NSW wants to change all that.

Wrapped or raw: discussing pos-pos sex

Graham Stocks — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 15:22:06 -0800

Positive Life NSW have re-launched their campaign Wrapped or Raw which explores choices made by HIV-positive gay men – specifically about using condoms in pos-pos sex – while offering options to minimise risk, maximise pleasure, manage disclosure and have great sex.

New Zealand still a condom culture

Graham Stocks — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 17:47:47 -0800

As condom use falls in many countries and HIV rates continue to rise, turning to treatment as prevention (TasP) may seem a natural progression in the fight against HIV. The New Zealand AIDS Foundation (NZAF) disagrees.

US PrEP guidelines released

Graham Stocks — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 21:15:07 -0700

As a follow-up to the preliminary guidelines regarding pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for men who have sex with men, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have also issued interim recommendations for heterosexually active adults.

19th International AIDS Conference opens in Washington DC

Jill Sergeant — Sun, 22 Jul 2012 16:04:47 -0700

On the eve of the world’s largest gathering of AIDS researchers, activists and policy makers, NAPWA is calling on the Australian Government to show greater leadership in international efforts to finally end the global AIDS epidemic.

Time for Australia to get its act together

Adrian Ogier — Mon, 16 Jul 2012 22:35:57 -0700

Landmark US approval of the drug (Truvada) TDF/FTC for use in preventing HIV infections in sexually active HIV negative adults

Prevention gets topical

Graham Stocks — Thu, 07 Jun 2012 23:36:51 -0700

Only two years ago, we had scant evidence that a product used before sex could prevent HIV. Since then, the Caprisa 004 trial has proved that a gel applied topically to the vagina can reduce the chance of HIV infection, and several trials have shown that a tablet taken orally can do the same.

Next on the agenda are rectal microbicide gels and multi prevention technologies designed to prevent pregnancy as well as HIV.

But where does this new technology leave those of us who already have HIV? Adrian Ogier and Jane Costello report from the International Microbicides Conference held in Sydney in April.

Superinfection risk higher than imagined

Graham Stocks — Thu, 07 Jun 2012 16:38:00 -0700

The risk of becoming superinfected (contracting another strain[HIV strain] Any subgroup of the HIV species. Because HIV mutates very easily, there are many different strains (and may be multiple strains within a single person). of hiv to the one you have already) may be as high in the community as the risk of contracting hiv, according to a paper released in february.

Superinfection can be difficult to detect, claim the writers, and is undoubtedly underdiagnosed.

However, many superinfections are unlikely to be clinically relevant.

Spotlight on Seattle

Graham Stocks — Wed, 06 Jun 2012 21:09:26 -0700

The 19th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (Croi) was held in Seattle in march. Here are some important highlights.