Coming soon, HIV prevention for ladies?

Scientists may be a step closer to developing a vaginal gel that can protect women against HIV.

Researchers found that five out of six macaque monkeys were protected from developing the simian/human immunodeficiency virus (SHIV) when the gel, which contains 1 percent of the antiretroviral drug raltegravir, was applied three hours after exposure to SHIV.

In addition, the researchers found that two out of three macaque monkeys were protected from SHIV when the gel was applied 30 minutes before the exposure.

BBC News pointed out that more studies are needed to test the gel in humans before it can be used in the real world. Dr. Andrew Freedman, of the Cardiff University School of Medicine, told BBC News that the drug in the gel has effects on HIV when it's in a later stage of infection.