Recent testing has produced exciting results, and could be a major breakthrough in the fight against AIDS. A new vaginal gel is being developed, and so far, testing on monkeys has shown that the gel is successful in stopping the spread of the AIDS virus. Glycerol monolaurate (GML) is the gel’s ingredient that helps stop HIV from spreading. GML is already approved by the FDA for use in other medicines and cosmetics. It’s also found in breast milk. GML affects immune responses, helping to stop the spread of HIV. While initial studies have been promising, much more testing on monkeys will take place before human testing begins.
In addition to its potential use as an anti-HIV gel, GML is currently being considered as an additive to tampons because of its ability to interfere with bacterial growth, like the bacteria that cause toxic shock syndrome (TSS).
