‘Super condom’ that could fight HIV and increase sexual pleasure ‘on sale next year’
Health & Science
By
Mirror
| Dec 21, 2015
The contraceptive has been developed by a team from the Texas A&M Health Science Center in a bid to combat the spread of the virus that causes AIDS, which still kills more than one million people per year
A ‘super condom’ that has anti-HIV properties and can increase sexual pleasure will soon be on sale to the public, according to scientists.
The new contraceptive contains an embedded antioxidant which could fight HIV and unlike most condoms, which are made from latex, it consists of a strong, elastic polymer called hydrogel, which is made primarily of water and is already used in other medical products, including contact lenses.
Designed by a team from Irma Lerma Rangel College of Pharmacy at the Texas A&M Health Science Center, it could go on sale as early as 2016
The condom's plant-based antioxidant has been shown to have anti-HIV properties, which would be vital if the condom were to break, acting as a barrier to the virus.
READ MORE
Expert: The shilling has regained value, but don't expect it to last
Unearthing the artifacts of WWII: A journey through Matuu and beyond
Roam, County Bus Service partner to deploy 200 electric buses
Budget cuts loom for Parliament thanks to Sh9.6b Bunge Towers
Private sector partnerships important to catalysing sports
Tax stand-off as boda boda riders defy county call to pay
Islamic banking gets traction in Africa as Salaam Bank feted
Data privacy major challenge for Kenya's digital space, report
Angola ICT Minister: Invest in space industry to ensure a connected, peaceful Africa
Head researcher on the project Mahua Choudhury has previously said: “We are not only making a novel material for condoms to prevent the HIV infection, but we are also aiming to eradicate this infection if possible.”
And Dr Choudhury also told the BBC : “People say they don’t want to use condoms because it doesn’t have the same sexual pleasure.
“The antioxidant (in the condom) will enhance neurotransmitters which will work with nerve endings, giving greater sexual pleasure.
“If the HIV virus gets into the product, the condom will block it, prevent it replicating, and prevent entry (from the body).”
The condom is expected to go on sale next year at around $1 each.
Dr Choudhury said several companies are interested in working on the product.
According to the team’s research, in 2014 there were about 36.9million people living with HIV and about two million were infected with AIDS.
The virus is commonly spread through sexual activity, and although antiretroviral therapy has turned the once fatal condition into a chronic one, 1.2million people died as a result of AIDS-related diseases last year.
- Expert: The shilling has regained value, but don't expect it to last
- Budget cuts loom for Parliament thanks to Sh9.6b Bunge Towers
- Firm linked to fake fertiliser calls for arrest of Linturi, NCPB boss