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Joan Stephenson, PhD

JAMA. 1999;281:405.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text and any section headings.

Microbicides are urgently needed for preventing HIV infection and other sexually transmitted infections, according to a new report summarizing the opinions of a group of women's health advocates, scientists, ethicists, and industry representatives from 15 countries. The need for a "stealth" protective method to reduce the risk of such infections is particularly pressing for women who are unable to persuade sexual partners to use condoms.

About 40 microbicidal products are in development, 15 of which are currently being tested in humans.

The report, a joint effort by the Center for Health and Gender Equity (CHANGE), the International Women's Health Coalition (IWHC), and the Population Council, reflects a consensus view of the 55 participants who gathered at a 1997 symposium that explored how large-scale trials to evaluate the efficacy of microbicides should be designed and implemented.

Consensus views among symposium participants included the need to:

• Encourage greater public-sector . . . [Full Text of this Article]