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In most western countries, HIV is largely a man's disease; however, in Africa, young heterosexual women bear the brunt of infection, often because they are unable to negotiate safer sex with their partners. Thus, a form of protection that women can use without involving or even informing men has become the holy grail of HIV prevention.
Researchers in South Africa provided 445 sexually active heterosexual women with applicators that contained 1% tenofovir gel (oral tenofovir is one of the most commonly used and best tolerated antiretrovirals) and instructions to apply the gel intravaginally before and after sex. Compared with 444 women who were given placebo gel, the tenofovir group exhibited an HIV incidence rate that was 50% lower after 12 …