HPV Prevention Update - Carrageenan
The topic of HPV and other STIs comes up quite often on poly forums. I usually throw my two cents in, but it's been a few months since I did my own research, so I figured I should go out there and look at what new developments there may or may not be in HPV treatment and prevention.
Rather than re-quote all the basic stuff again, I refer you to my previous entry on the subject, http://joreth.livejournal.com/21110.html, where I discuss how Carrageenan, a gel made from red algae and found in food and some sex lubes, was found to be a massively successful HPV inhibitor.
Check that out for the basic info. From here, I will assume everyone has the same minimum level of knowledge about carrageenan that I do.
New stuff I found out on this round of research (and by "research", I mean a cursory google search while avoiding doing photography editing):
~ Sometime this year there should be the results of a phase-three test of women in Africa using a vaginal gel specifically designed for HPV prevention. http://www.womensenews.org/article.cfm/dyn/aid/2630
~ At the time of my last posting, they had only done petri-dish type experiments and had not had the opportunity to work on lab mice. Now they have. Their findings are very promising: "the researchers next tested to see whether compounds used in vaginal products affect susceptibility to infection. They found that a widely used vaginal spermicide, nonoxynol-9 (N-9), greatly increased the rate of infection. They then tested 2 commercial carrageenan-containing lubricants and found that they blocked infection. Carrageenan prevented HPV infection in the presence of N-9 as well." http://www.nih.gov/news/research_matters/july2007/07162007hpv.htm
~ Carrageenan was most effective at acidic pH levels similar to those encountered in the vagina, the report indicates. Besides preventing the initial attachment of capsids to cells, carrageenan also blocked postbinding events.
~ A variety of consumer products containing carrageenan also successfully inhibited HPV infectivity, according to the results, although some products labeled as containing carrageenan had little effect.
~ In the new study, carrageenan blocked infection by HPV-16 and showed signs of inhibiting two cancer-causing strains that the vaccine doesn't address. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1200/is_1_172/ai_n19377485
~ If successful, one or more of the five products entering phase III clinical trials (of HIV prevention) is likely to reach the market. These five products are: BufferGel®, Carraguard®, PRO 2000®, C31G, and cellulose sulfate (2, 44). Carraguard prevents HIV, HPV, and HSV, but does not kill sperm. BufferGel kills sperm, microbes that cause HPV, HSV, chlamydia and gonorrhea, and white blood cells that contain HIV. Pro 2000 binds to HIV, gonorrhea and HSV. Ushercell acts on a "broad range of STIs and appears to have a contraceptive effect. C31G does not seem to have any anti-HPV properties. http://www.infoforhealth.org/inforeports/microbicides/microbs1.shtml (sounds like I'll want BufferGel to prove effective for HPV, because of it's combo contraceptive/STI prevention properties)
~ A Failed Candidate: CONRAD halted its trial [of cellulose sulfate (CS), also known as Ushercell] after early results suggested that CS might be contributing to an increased risk of HIV infection among women in the study. This site has the latest (as of this date) info on all the above products being tested! http://www.thebody.com/content/treat/art42458.html