The use of nonoxynol-9 for protection against cervical gonorrhea.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:

Although condoms are the best defense against sexually transmitted disease, little is known about the effectiveness of female-controlled methods containing nonoxynol-9 as backup protection when condoms are not being used.

METHODS:

To assess the extent to which nonoxynol-9 protects women against gonorrhea, a cohort of 303 female sex workers (prostitutes) in Yaounde, Cameroon, were asked to use condoms and suppositories containing nonoxynol-9 at every sexual encounter and to record daily sexual activity and use of condoms and suppositories on coital logs that were reviewed monthly. Evidence of gonorrheal infection was based on a positive gonorrhea culture. Stratified analysis and proportional hazards regression were used to estimate rate ratios.

RESULTS:

Forty-one women enrolled in the study were excluded from the current analysis. The estimated incidence of gonorrhea was 6.2 infections per 100 person-months of observation. Incidence rate ratios estimated from proportional hazards regression models controlling for condom use showed that using nonoxynol-9 during acts not protected by condoms reduced the risk of infection.

CONCLUSIONS:

Although the protective effect of condoms against sexually transmitted disease is greater than that afforded by nonoxynol-9, using nonoxynol-9 when condoms are not used is a far better strategy in gonorrhea prevention than using no method at all.

• Authors: S S Weir, P J Feldblum, L Zekeng, R E Roddy
• Journal: American journal of public health (Am J Public Health) Vol. 84 Issue 6 Pg. 910-4 (Jun 1994) ISSN: 0090-0036 [Print] United States
• PMID: 8203685 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.)

Chemical References

• Suppositories
• Nonoxynol

Topics

• Administration, Intravaginal
• Adult
• Cohort Studies
• Condoms
• Female
• Gonorrhea (prevention & control)
• Humans
• Middle Aged
• Nonoxynol (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Sex Work
• Suppositories
• Uterine Cervical Diseases (prevention & control)