From Columbus ’ ships to mediaeval invasions , sexually transmitted disease have harry the genitals of man for centuries . But despite all these years of , “ It cut when I pee , ” would you believe that the most mutual and effective mean of prevention is still the latex condom , invented back in 1920?Anyone who ’s ever used a condom knows those lilliputian wrappers leave behind a lot to be desired in sensation , olfaction , taste , size … and even safety . The fight against sexually transmitted disease is long delinquent for new , game - change hardware – and it looks likepeeing into a cupcould be a lot less terrifying in add up years . Here are some intersection on the wand of hike secure sexuality and rendering rubbers disused .
PrEP
PrEPis " the petty blue pill ” you probably have n’t heard of yet – which is mad , debate it ’s the most effective and revolutionary method of HIV bar ever create . bear medicine that was previously used for treat the disease , tests show that when someone HIV negative takes one oral contraceptive a day , it can lower their risk of contracting the disease by a mind - blowing92 to 99 % .
But there are still aesculapian provider who are n’t familiar with it , or at least not recommending it to patients . According to Dr. Robert Bolan at the Los Angeles LGBT Center , the understanding for that is twofold : a reluctance to order the antibiotic out of fear of affected role building resistor – or good ol' fashioned ethical motive issues .
“ ( Some medical providers ) care about a decline in personal sexual responsibility and what would happen if people were to abandon any other hazard - reduction strategies , ” Bolan says . “ My answer … is to simply ask where ’s the grounds that condom use has well reduced HIV incidences in the US and Europe ? In other watchword , how well has that work for us so far ? ”
Daniel Fishel/Thrillist
Gardasil
Close Tinder and pay attending for a sec : there are STDs condoms are ineffective against . HPV is one of them . It ’s in reality the most vernacular STD in the US , be in more than 100 strains that can cause everything from genital wart to cervical cancer . Yeah . It ’s gnarly .
But hey , there ’s a vaccinum . Gardasil , a band of three shots administer by your medical provider , can prevent some of the most typical strains . TheUS Center for Disease Control and Preventionrecommends it to men until age 21 , and cleaning woman until 26 .
patently , there are the anti - vaxxers . Natural wellness expert Dr. Joseph Mercola urges women against Gardasil on hiswebsite , citingresearchthat female vaccinated against HPV may have a gamey risk of spring up those strains the vaccinum does n’t protect . “ Routine nipple blot examination is a far more intellectual , less expensive , and a less dangerous scheme for cervical cancer prevention , ” he write .
But for others like Dr. Jason James , a Miami - based OB - GYN , it ’s a serious recommendation . “ In the curt time HPV vaccine have been usable , we ’ve attend a significant decrease in abnormal pap smears , ” he enjoin . “ Overall , the information says it ’s sound and in effect . ”
Hydrogel condoms
condom that find like human skin may sound like a pipe dream ( no paronomasia intended ) . But they could be a smooth , silky realness very before long .
Meet hydrogel , a bad yet squishy biomaterial that ’s similar to tangency lenses . It ’s being developed as the “ next multiplication safe ” by a squad at the University of Wollongong in Australia . accord to Dr. Robert Gorkin , a biomedical technologist behind the undertaking , the condoms are already in exploiter examination . Patients give feedback verbally but also via neuromonitoring that explore subconscious preferences ( think of the science lab inMasters of Sex ) .
“ If [ the ] exploiter trial is successful and we do n’t off other hurdle , " Gorkin says , " we would be looking at potentially two to five long time to iron out great deal production , regulation and market clearance . ”
Tenofovir rings
Non - profit research organizationCONRADis fiercely arise a range of HIV prevention product for cleaning woman usingTenofovir , a drug that ’s already used in treatment .
So far , the most promising is a vaginal ring loaded with Tenofovir and parentage control hormones for a twofold - jinx of protection against HIV and pregnancy . CONRAD ’s representative tells us it ’s just make out a first round of examination with char , and could arrive at the marketplace in eight to 10 days .
The organization is also in the early phases of a quick - dissolving Tenofovir vaginal pill , and a vaginal gel .
PPCM
In 20 age , we could see the ultimate “ girl power ” gelatin that protect against almost everything . Polyphenylene carboxymethylene(PPCM for short ) is still in preclinical trials , but it would keep HIV , herpes , HPV , ANDpregnancy while showing hope against chlamydia and gonorrhea eventually too . It ’s a highly charged polymer that ’s being develop to block computer virus from attaching to host cell that should be useable by 2022 .
“ mighty now we do n’t have anything that prevents gonorrhea and chlamydia , except for the antibiotics that process them , ” says gynecologist James . “ Herpes also is n’t to the full protected by condom either . It ’s very empowering , for women particularly . safety are a product that ’s placed on the manlike partner , so this can be a welcome opportunity for women to take control of their protection . ”
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