[How can a female protect herself from HIV infection?]

In view of the changing patterns within the population groups affected with AIDS, the need for preventing transmission of the disease during heterosexual genital intercourse is becoming increasingly important. The problem as to how the woman can protect herself without the help of her partner has so far received little attention. Safer sex is not always practicable. The fact that the woman can be infected by HIV during genital intercourse is not doubted. The use of vaginal foam tablets containing 75 mg nonoxinol 9, which have been used for contraception for many years, seems to be a valuable measure of protection. The virucidal threshold concentration for nonoxinol 9, established in numerous in vitro studies, is far exceeded in practical intravaginal use of the foam tablets. An additional protection of the woman may be afforded by the use of a vaginal diaphragm.