Common Ingredient May Diminish Risk

While it does not provide 100 percent protection, researchers have found that a cheap ingredient used in ice cream and cosmetics helped protect monkeys against infection with a virus similar to AIDS. It is their hope that it can be developed to greatly reduce the risk of a women being infected while attempting to become pregnant.

This is especially important given that many AIDS experts say women become afflicted while attempting to lead normal lives. This includes having children, even if their husbands are HIV positive.

According to researchers, even if the ingredient was only 60 percent effective, it could prevent as many as 2.5 million new HIV cases over three years. According to Reuters, they said they plan to study the gel for longer periods of time to ensure it is preventing infection rather than delaying it.

It is estimated that globally more than 32 million people are living with HIV, with more than 2 million new cases being diagnosed each year.