Nonoxynol-9 does NOT protect against HIV!

[Homebrew]

In another thread some poster (it’s immaterial who) incorrectly stated that N-9 provides protection against HIV infection. This is an old belief that has been shown incorrect by research. It’s also a dangerous belief that needs disabused, so I thought I’d start a thread about it.

Here’s the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s position:

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES

Public Health Services

Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention (CDC)
Atlanta, Ga30333

August 4 2000

Dear Colleague:

At the International AIDS Conference held in Durban, South Africa, from July 9.14, 2000, researchers with the Joint United Nations Program on AIDS (UNAIDS) presented results of an important study about HIV prevention in woman. They studied a product widely used in spermicides, nonoxynol-9 (N- 9), to determine if it would be Effective in preventing HIV transmission. Products designed to provide a chemical barrier to HIV and STD transmission are called microbicides. This notice summarizes the study results and some implications for use of this product in prevention programs.

From 1996 until May 2000, UNAIDS sponsored a study of the effectiveness of a gel which contained 52.5 milligrams of N-9 (called COL’1492 in the trial and Advantag-S in the United States), compared to an inactive placebo gel. The study was conducted in several locations in Africa. Nearly 1,000 HIV-negative commercial sex workers were enrolled in the trial, and all women were counseled to use condoms consistently and correctly. In addition to condom use, the women were asked to use a vaginal gel each time they had intercourse. Half of the women were provided a placebo gel and half of the women received an N-9 spermicide gel. None of the woman, or the researchers, knew which product each woman received, and all of the women were informed of the possible risks, benefits, arid unknowns involved in the spermicide study.

At the end of the trial, researchers found that the women who used the spermicide N-9 gel had become infected with HIV at about a 50% higher rate than women who used the placebo gel. Further, the more frequently women used only N-9 spermicide gel (without a condom) to protect themselves, the higher their risk of becoming infected. Simply stated, the spermicide N-9 did not protect against HIV infection and may have caused more transmission. Women who used the spermicide N-9 also had more vaginal lesions, which might have facilitated HIV transmission.

This study was conducted among women at very high risk commercial sex workers who used a great deal of the product on a frequent basis. The adverse effects might not be seen at the same level among women who are using spermicides with N.9 less frequently or in different formulations. However, given that the spermicide Nonoxynol-9 has now been proven ineffective against HIV transmission, the possibility of risk, with no benefit, indicates that Nonoxynol-9 should not be recommended as an effective means of HIV prevention.

With the release of these data, the scientific evidence on spermicide Nonoxynol-9 as an HIV prevention strategy is now conclusive and significant. As a result prevention guidelines must be re-evaluated UNAIDS and CDC will be holding consultations over the next few months to consider official revisions to public health guidelines for the use of N-9 for HIV prevention and for pregnancy prevention in populations at high risk for HIV. In the interim, those findings have several immediate implications.

First, any community delivering hierarchical prevention messages that counsel individuals who can’t use a condom to consider spermicides with N-9 for HIV prevention should immediately revise these messages. This study suggests that the use of spermicide N-9 for HIV prevention may he harmful. Second, anyone currently using N- 9 as a microbicide to protect themselves from HIV transmission during anal intercourse should be informed of the ineffectiveness of this agent and warned of the potential risk of this practice.

CDC has never recommended the spermicide N-9 alone for HIV prevention, but current recommendations do emphasize the consistent and correct use of condoms, with or without a spermicide. While the level of N-9 used as a lubricant in condoms is much lower than the level found to be harmful in this study, CDC will re-evaluate this guidance as part of the upcoming consultation. In the interim, while N-9 spermicide will not offer any additional protection against HIV, a condom lubricated with Nonoxynol - 9 is clearly better than using no condom at all. The protection provided by the condom against HIV far outweighs the potential risk of N-9. If given the choice, condoms without N-9 spermicide may be a better option for HIV prevention.

From a research perspective, these findings point to the need for accelerated efforts to identify a safe and effective microbicide. Of the more than 7,000 new HIV infections occurring in the world each day, about 90% are the result of heterosexual transmission. In addition, more than 330 million new cases of other STDs, such as gonorrhea, chlamydia, and syphilis, occur each year.

For those who are unable to access condoms or to negotiate their use, there is an urgent need to identify an effective alternative to prevent HIV and STD transmission. Moving forward with the evaluation of microbicide candidates, which are not likely to cause the same negative effect seen with Nonoxynol 9 spermicide, should be a public health priority.

We appreciate any assistance you can provide in disseminating this critical public health information and will keep you informed as the consultations are completed

Sincerely,

Helene D. Gayle, M.D., M.P.H.
Director, National Center for HIV, STD, and TB Prevention
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

(bolding mine)

Further in 2003, the FDA proposed changes to labeling to reflect the new data

The warning would state that vaginal contraceptives containing nonoxynol 9 do not protect against infection from HIV (human immunodeficiency virus, the AIDS virus) or other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).

The proposed label warnings would also advise consumers that the use of vaginal contraceptives containing nonoxynol 9 can increase vaginal irritation, which may actually increase the possibility of transmitting the AIDS virus and other STDs from infected partners.

[Shodan]

My bad, then, and thanks for fighting my ignorance.

Regards,
Shodan

[Homebrew]

I wasn’t gonna name names because I know it was once believed to be true. But it’s important to be safe. Other studies have shown that lubricants and lubricated condoms containing N-9 are especially bad when used anally.

Have fun, but be safer about it.

[ouryL]

@Homebrew

In another thread some poster (it’s immaterial who) incorrectly stated that N-9 provides protection against HIV infection. This is an old belief that has been shown incorrect by research. It’s also a dangerous belief that needs disabused, so I thought I’d start a thread about it.

Here’s the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s position:

(bolding mine)

Further in 2003, the FDA proposed changes to labeling to reflect the new data

Neither does bathing, but…

[Homebrew]

Can you show me where, on the SDMB, someone claimed it did?

[Eats_Crayons]

In some cases it’s a matter of research updating everyone. (Once upon a time they may have thought it was somewhat helpful and then that gets debunked a few years later.)

But what’s really scary, is that back when I was finishing up in university they did a survey of senior univeristy students, and recent university graduates in the area and found a ridiculously high percentage of students and grads (hello – supposedly “educated” people) who did not know that the Birth Control Pill does NOT protect against STDs!

I was a ghast when I read the story!

My mom worked at a clinic at the time and was horrified.