The Gel Study was a seven week study testing the safety of two different microbicides
compared to an over-the-counter lube people use during sex. Microbicides are gels
designed to help prevent HIV transmission. In the study we asked 24
HIV-positive men to apply three different kinds of gels to their penis once a day
for one week, with a one week break in between each different kind of gel. These
gels had already been tested on women and HIV-negative men, and we were then
conducting safety trials on HIV-positive men.
What does the study involve?
Study participants applied the gel at bedtime and kept it on
for 6 - 10 hours. Participants then washed the gel off the next morning and wrote on a
diary card the time the gel was applied and the time it was washed off. They were then
asked to record any symptoms they may have had and any medications they may have taken.
Participants were asked to refrain from sexual intercourse and masturbation during the
weeks they used the gels. Participants were also asked not to use any other kinds of
gels on their penis during the study. There were a total of seven scheduled visits.
Participants were compensated for their time.
How do I get more information on this
study?
If you have further questions about this or any of our research
studies, feel free to contact us. You can
also click on the
links below to read the abstracts of the journal articles that were
written
based on data gathered during the Gel Study:
- Safety and Acceptability of Penile
Application of
2 Candidate Topical Microbicides: BufferGel and PRO 2000 Gel: 3 Randomized
Trials in Healthy Low-Risk Men and HIV-Positive Men (2003)
We are no longer enrolling for this study, but if you are interested
in participating
in
HIV prevention research, please explore our
research
page that lists studies that we are currently enrolling for.
Thank You
to all of our
Gel Study
Volunteers!
