Researchers at the Infectious Diseases Research Centre at Canada's University Laval have developed an 'invisible condom' for women. This vaginal microbicide gel could be the next weapon in the battle against AIDS, as well as other venereal diseases like herpes. Its use also could give women more control over their own health unlike in the case of the conventional condom whose use relies heavily on the man's willingness to use it. A report in the Journal of the American Medical Association said that the gel condom would be tried on 30 women later this year for side effects. If the results are promising, further tests will determine its effectiveness when people use it, researchers say. Describing the gel as a great boon for women, the researchers say that 20 to 50 percent of men who have risky sexual relations do not use condoms, thereby exposing women to various diseases including AIDS. The greatest asset of the gel is that women can use it without the knowledge of the sexual partner and thus protect herself from possible risks. Researchers are unwilling to put a date on when this gel will be available in the market.
