Will Women Will Use Microbicides?

When it comes to protecting oneself from sexually transmitted disease, especially from HIV, you would imagine that if one was fully educated in all the various ways of protection, they would do everything in their power to use whatever combinations of protection they could. Unfortunately, this is not always the case, even with those sexually active who are knowledgeable about protection. Findings from a study done by researchers at Brown University and The Miriam Hospital show those women who are not in monogamous relationships but who are sexually active and have used protection in the past are those candidates more likely to use microbicides. Microbicides are any substances that are applied to help prevent the spreading of a virus (in this case, a gel used to prevent HIV infection). At this date, there are no microbicides on the market that have been proven to prevent HIV although many have been created and are going through the process of clinical trials.

Lead researcher Kathleen Morrow states that while the findings may seem obvious, “they are important because science has very little direct evidence of what characteristics and situations in women’s lives would make them more likely to want to use a microbicide to prevent HIV infection.” She goes on to say that even if a microbicide was proven to be effective in preventing HIV infection, if a woman felt that it diminished the sexual experience or was too difficult to use, that woman would choose not to use it, despite the obvious benefits. Along with Morrow, researchers devised a scale called “Willingness to Use Microbicides.” This scale was a questionnaire which was administered to over 500 women hailing from New York, Rhode Island, Connecticut and Massachusetts. These women were all between the ages of 18 and 55, not currently pregnant, not infected with HIV (or status unknown) and sexually active within the year. Examples of questions include whether or not the woman would have used a microbicide in her most current sexual encounter if one had been available and whether or not a woman would buy a microbicide if its cost was comparable to that of a condom. Many variables were considered including household income, race, condom and spermicide usage and number of partners, to name a few. 

The study showed those women who frequently used condoms and/or spermicide in the past as well as those women who did not have one single partner were more likely to use the microbicide, if available. Morrow states, “How a woman defines or labels her sexual partnership appears to have an impact on her decision-making process with regard to protecting herself from HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases.” The researchers made an interesting observation that many women who were currently in monogamous relationships did not perceive a need to use extra protection; however, it is a known fact that around the world, women who contract HIV are more likely to get it from the man they feel is their monogamous sexual partner (in most cases, a husband). Because of this, Morrow suggests that it is crucial all women, including those women who are in “monogamous” relationships, be educated on the different prevention methods they can use. Morrow and her colleagues wish to further refine the study to include more variables as well as a more diverse and global study base.