Can nonoxynol-9 (N-9) prevent HIV infection?
CDC UPDATE from the National Center for HIV, STD & TB Prevention (April 97) Although laboratory studies show that N-9 kills HIV in test tubes, available data on the efficacy and safety of N-9 spermicide to prevent sexual transmission of HIV in real life situations are inconclusive and inconsistent. For this reason, CDC does not recommend the use of N-9 alone to prevent the sexual transmission of HIV. CDC recommends the use of male latex condoms, with or without spermicide. Nonoxynol-9 has been shown to provide some protection against two bacterial STDs, gonorrhea and chlamydia.
