Genital Herpes Infection Prevention: Experimental Gel May Cut Chances of Contracting Herpes by Half

An experimental gel containing tenofir has been found to reduce the risk of contracting genital herpes in half, according to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Previous trials in the study revealed that the gel was 39 to 54 percent effective, reports UPI. 

In this particular trial, over 400 women who were not infected with genital herpes participated in the study, reports Science World Report. In order to test the effectiveness of the gell, the researchers of the study split the women into two groups.

One group was given the tenofir gel, while the other group was given a placebo gel,states NY Daily News. The participants were taught to apply the placebo and the tenofir gel within 12 hours prior to having sex and within 12 hours after having sex.

After 18 months of observation and examinations, researchers found there were less new cases of herpes in the group given the tenofir gel, compared to the group given the placebo. 

On average only 10 out of every 100 women contracted herpes in the group given the experimental gel. Whereas, an average of 22 women out of 100 were infected with herpes in the group given the placebo. 

Researchers also found that the women who applied the gel religiously and followed instructions carefully increased their chances of preventing herpes. 

According to Science World Report, the key ingredient of the gel, tenofir, can be found in pill form and is currently used to treat HIV, but can be ineffective most of the time.

However, Dr. Connie Celum, a professor at the University of Washington, conducted a study on the pill form of tenofir last year, and discovered that the ingredient could also be used to prevent the spread of herpes, resulting in the experimental gel, reports UPI. 

Dr. Celum was not part of this particular study, but did comment on the findings saying: "This is significant, given the lack of other interventions to reduce HSV-2 [the herpes virus] acquisition other than condoms. 

Celum emphasized that how people use the gel is important. She also pointed out that there is no cure or vaccine for herpes, so the gel could potentially be the best preventive method to decreasing herpes infection.

According to NY Daily News, Dr. Salim Abdool Karim, from the Centre for the AIDS Program of Research in South Africa told Reuters:

"...if a woman was concerned about acquiring herpes simplex virus type 2, [the tenifor gel] would be the best protection available."