HIV is a highly prevalent sexually transmitted infection. People who are infected with HIV have no way of curing the infection. There are effective strategies that may help with the management of HIV, but prevention should always be a priority. Through years of research, scientists have developed numerous strategies that help to assist in reducing the prevalence of HIV infections. One of the most recent advancements come in the form of an implant. The implant seems to assist in reducing the risk of HIV in the female population.
The Prevalence Of HIV Among The Female Population
HIV is prevalent among the worldwide female population. In some countries, however, there does seem to be a higher risk and prevalence of the HIV infection, compared to other countries. Data from a publication in the Journal of AIDS Research and Therapy provide more insight into the prevalence of the condition in specified populations.
According to the research paper, about one-third of all cases related to HIV infections are linked to the sub-Saharan Africa region. The paper also explains that the current prevalence of HIV among the female population in this region is considered unacceptable. Even though many advancements have been made in terms of preventing HIV infections, the condition still remains a prevalent STD among this particular population – and many other populations in underdeveloped countries too.
How An Implant May Prevent HIV In Women
New strategies are constantly being developed to help reduce the prevalence of HIV among the worldwide population. A new strategy focuses primarily on women, due to the high vulnerability often noted among the female population.
The new strategy comes in the form of a vaginal implant. The implant is administered by a licensed physician and will remain present in the vagina of the female patient. Once implanted, the small medical device will focus on helping the woman’s risk of being infected with HIV.
The vaginal implant is equipped with a special drug. The drug puts the T cells that are found in the genital tract of the female patient in a “quiescent” state. This means the T cells become less active – leading to a reduced productive state for the virus that causes HIV infections.
Researchers have found that when T cells in the vagina are placed into this type of resting state, it may potentially block the HIV virus early in its life cycle.
The New Implant Might Be The Solution
A new implant may be the key to reducing the risk of HIV infections among women. HIV does not only pose a risk to a woman but during pregnancy, the condition is often carried over to the unborn child. Reducing the risk through this new implant will play an important role in the preventative strategy that the world is implementing.
References
https://aidsrestherapy.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1742-6405-10-30