Spermicide Not Disease Preventer -- Study

The world's most widely used spermicide does not kill the bacteria that cause gonorrhea and chlamydia, according to a new report. Nonoxynol-9, in use for 50 years and part of a number of preparations, is marketed for birth control, not disease prevention. But it has been shown in laboratory tests to act against some pathogens, including those that cause gonorrhea and chlamydia, leading to speculation that it might have wider application, said the report from Durham, N.C.-based Family Health International.

Researchers conducted a trial to compare nonoxynol-9 gel and condom use against condom use alone to prevent male-to-female transmission of the two STDs among 1,251 women in Yaounde, Cameroon, between October 1998 and September 2000. "Nonoxynol-9 gel did not protect against urogenital gonococcal or chlamydia infection," concluded the report published in this week's Journal of the American Medical Association (2002;287;9:1117-1122).

Other studies have found similar results. An earlier round of research, also set in Africa, found the agent does not kill HIV. In a journal editorial commenting on the study, Barbra Richardson of the University of Washington in Seattle said it was time to move on to other research since 10 years of looking at nonoxynol-9 had proven fruitless.

"Although the message that nonoxynol-9 is not an effective vaginal microbicide is disappointing, it should not discourage further microbicide research," Richardson said. "Clearly, there remains a need for an inexpensive, effective, female-controlled method for preventing sexually transmitted diseases and there may be many studies with negative results before one is found."

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