Topical microbicides. Current status and research considerations for adolescent girls.
OBJECTIVE
For sexually active adolescent girls, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) represent a significant health problem. Although condom use may be an effective intervention against STDs in this high-risk population, actual use depends on the cooperation of the male partner. Therefore, the development of female-controlled methods such as topical microbicides have been endorsed as an important option for STD prevention.


OBJECTIVE
This article reviews the current status of intravaginal microbicide development and discusses aspects of adolescent development that should be considered in topical microbicide research.


RESULTS
Biological development, cognitive capacities, psychosexual maturation, and the sociocultural context are key features that affect the likelihood that adolescents will adopt microbicides as a specific methods of STD protection.


CONCLUSIONS
Adoption of topical microbicides by adolescents will require an "adolescent friendly" perspective for topical microbicides to have a significant impact on the STD epidemic.
Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Ohio, USA.
S L
SL
Rosenthal
S S
SS
Cohen
L R
LR
Stanberry
D000287:Administration, Topical; D000293:Adolescent; D000818:Animals; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents