‘Super condom’ that could fight HIV and increase sexual pleasure ‘on sale next year’

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

Scientists have created a 'super condom' which can fight HIV and is designed to make sex more pleasurable than regular condoms {Photo Courtesy}

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.

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.

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