Ovarian Cancer Cells Destroyed By New Platinum-Phosphate Compounds
A new class of compounds called phosphaplatins can effectively kill ovarian, testicular, head and neck cancer cells with potentially less toxicity than conventional drugs, according to a new study published this week in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. (read more)
Sex Education Forum Investigates Sexual Health Services In Further Education And Sixth Form Colleges, UK
A national survey from the Sex Education Forum (SEF) has found that thousands of young people on college campuses across England are receiving vital advice and help on their sexual health, but argues more needs to be done. The survey, which covered the entirety of mainstream further education and sixth form colleges in England, found that more than two thirds of colleges provide onsite sexual health services. (read more)
Indian Law Criminalizing Homosexuality Remains 'Major Obstacle' In Fight Against HIV/AIDS, Piot Says
UNAIDS Executive Director Peter Piot on Sunday said that an Indian law criminalizing sex between men is a "major obstacle" to the country's efforts to curb the spread of HIV/AIDS, News Track India reports. Piot called the law a "violation of human rights" and said that it should have been abolished a long time ago. (read more)
China Increasingly Using Condoms In Fight Against HIV/AIDS, Wall Street Journal Reports
The Wall Street Journal on Tuesday examined how China is increasingly promoting condoms as a method of HIV prevention. While HIV "has long thrived quietly on the fringes of Chinese society" among injection drug users and tainted blood recipients, there is now a risk of HIV spreading further into the general population. (read more)
Observers Expect Obama To Reverse Polices Blocking International Family Planning Aid
Advocates on both sides of the abortion-rights debate believe that President-elect Barack Obama will issue an executive order early in his presidency to reverse the Bush administration's "Mexico City" policy or "global gag rule" -- which bans federal funding to international family planning programs that, with their own funds, provide abortion services or lobby their governments regarding abortion rights -- (read more)
Helping Nursing Home Staff Become Comfortable With Residents' Sexual Expression
"Do not disturb" signs aren't just for newlyweds anymore. They are also a way to give nursing home residents some privacy for sexual expression, according to Kansas State University aging experts. "By law you can't always lock a room, but you can offer residents some privacy," said Gayle Doll, who directs K-State's Center on Aging. (read more)
New York Times Examines Controversy Over Proposed HHS Conscience Rule
A rule proposed by HHS that would allow health care providers who receive federal grants to opt out of care based on their moral or religious beliefs "has provoked a torrent of objections," including a "strenuous protest" from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which enforces job discrimination laws, the (read more)
New Research Finds Anti-Same-Sex Marriage Amendments Spark Distress Among GLBT Adults And Families
Amendments that restrict civil marriage rights of same-sex couples - such as Proposition 8 that recently passed in California - have led to higher levels of stress and anxiety among lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender adults, as well as among their families of origin, according to several new studies to be published by the American Psychological Association. (read more)
Innovative Birth Control Method: A Low-Dose, Once-Weekly Contraceptive Patch, Phase 3 Trials
Agile Therapeutics, Inc., a late-stage pharmaceutical company specializing in women's health products, announced today that after a successful end-of-Phase 2 meeting with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the company is moving forward with its pivotal Phase 3 program to support a NDA filing and marketing approval of AG200-15 with SKINFUSION™ technology. AG200-15 is an innovative, low-dose contraceptive patch that offers women a convenient, once-weekly form of birth control. (read more)
Adult Male Circumcision Not Linked To Sexual Dysfunction
The World Health Organization recommends male circumcision as an important element in HIV prevention programs, and the procedure is promoted in high-risk heterosexual populations. While the benefits of circumcision are well-documented (they also include reduced rates of urinary tract infection, penile cancer, and cervical cancer and chlamydia in female partners), there remains a concern that adult circumcision may impair sexual function. (read more)
India's Cellular Ringtone Boosts Country's Condom Sales, Officials Say
Condom sales in India increased by 85 million in the months following a media campaign featuring a cellular phone ringtone that says "condom, condom," officials at India's National AIDS Control Organization said on Friday, (read more)
Case Strengthens For HPV Vaccination In Boys
Latest results from a clinical trial of Gardisal™, the Australian developed vaccine for human papilloma virus, add to the growing weight of opinion that the Government should extend its funding of the vaccine to boys. The research was presented today (18/11) to the Clinical Oncolgoical Society of Australia Annual Scientific Meeting in Sydney. (read more)
Increase In Unplanned Pregnancies, Abortions In Indian City Linked To Ban On Over-the-Counter EC Sales
The Indian city of Chennai is seeing an increase in unplanned pregnancies and abortions since a ban on over-the-counter sales of emergency contraception was implemented by the state director of drug control one year ago, the Times of India reports. (read more)
Four-type HPV Vaccine Gardasil(R) Is Also Effective In Men
The four-type (6,11,16,18) human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine Gardasil® is also effective in men according to the primary analysis from a pivotal phase III clinical study. In previously uninfected men aged 16 to 26 years*, Gardasil® prevented 90% (95%CI: 69, 98) of external genital lesions caused by HPV types 6, 11, 16 or 18. The data were presented this week at the congress of the European Research Organisation on Genital Infection and Neoplasia (EUROGIN) in Nice, France. (read more)
Rep. Maloney Predicts Obama Will Reinstate Funding For U.N. Population Fund
Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.) on Wednesday at the launch of the United Nations Population Fund's annual State of World Population report said that President-elect Barack Obama will lift the Bush administration's freeze on U.S. funding for UNFPA's family planning programs, (read more)
HIV/AIDS Advocates In Philippines Call For Passage Of Reproductive Health Bill
In hopes of developing a national policy on reproductive health to help curb the spread of HIV in the Philippines, the Girls, Women and HIV/AIDS Network recently called for the passage of a reproductive health bill in the House of Representatives, the Philippine Daily Inquirer reports. During the last general assembly meeting on Oct. (read more)
GARDASIL(R) Demonstrated Efficacy In Preventing HPV-Related Disease In Males In Phase III Study
GARDASIL® [Human Papillomavirus Quadrivalent (Types 6, 11, 16, and 18) Vaccine, Recombinant], the cervical cancer vaccine from Merck & Co., Inc., prevented 90 percent of external genital lesions caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) types 6, 11, 16 and 18 in a pivotal Phase III study in men aged 16 to 26. (read more)
FDA Approves Low-dose Regimen Of Premarin Vaginal Cream To Treat Moderate To Severe Postmenopausal Dyspareunia Painful Sexual Intercourse
PREMARIN® (conjugated estrogens) Vaginal Cream 0.5 g has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for a new indication and a new less frequent twice-weekly dosing regimen to treat moderate to severe postmenopausal dyspareunia (painful sexual intercourse) announced Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, a division of Wyeth (NYSE: WYE). (read more)
Hawaii Should Say 'No Thanks' To Abstinence-Only Education Funding, Editorial Says
Unlike some states, Hawaii has not found "the backbone to say 'no thanks'" to federal funding for abstinence-only education, a Honolulu Star Bulletin editorial says. (read more)
Study Finds HPV Vaccine Gardasil Effective At Preventing Male Genital Lesions
Merck's human papillomavirus vaccine Gardasil is about 90% effective in preventing external lesions -- mostly gential warts -- caused by the four HPV strains it targets and 45% effective in preventing HPV infection, according to a Merck-funded study, Reuters reports (Fox, Reuters, 11/12). (read more)
Britons In 30s, 40s Use Condoms Less Frequently Than Teenagers, Study Finds
People in their 30s and 40s living in the United Kingdom are half as likely as teenagers to use a condom when having sex with a new partner, according to a study published recently in the International Journal of Epidemiology, London's Daily Telegraph reports. (read more)
Modelling Research Shows CervarixTM-induced Immune Response May Be Prolonged For At Least 20 Years For Both HPV 16 And 18
Results of three statistical models presented today at the European Research Organisation on Genital Infection and Neoplasia (EUROGIN) annual meeting in Nice, France, suggest that young women vaccinated with GlaxoSmithKline's cervical cancer vaccine CervarixTM could look forward to a prolonged immune response against the two most common cancer-causing human papillomavirus virus (HPV) types, HPV 16 and 18 for at least 20 years. (read more)
Female Embryonic Sexual Development Driven By Universal Factor
A gene essential to the growth and development of most organ systems in the body also is vital to female - but not male - embryonic sexual development, scientists report this month. The study, from researchers at the University of Illinois and the University of Texas, appears in Human Molecular Genetics. The findings lend support to a controversial hypothesis about mammalian sexual development. (read more)
Family Planning Association Responds To New NATSAL Research On Sexual Behavior, UK
Responding to research published in the International Journal of Epidemiology on the high proportion of people not using condoms when they have sex with a new partner, Julie Bentley, Chief Executive, fpa said: "This research shows that no matter what age you are, or what type of relationship you are in, sexual health messages still apply. "The truth is, most campaigns on safer sex and condom use are aimed at young people. (read more)
FDA Approves Low-dose Regimen Of PREMARIN Vaginal Cream To Treat Moderate To Severe Postmenopausal Dyspareunia - Painful Sexual Intercourse
PREMARIN(R) (conjugated estrogens) Vaginal Cream 0.5 g has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for a new indication and a new less frequent twice-weekly dosing regimen to treat moderate to severe postmenopausal dyspareunia (painful sexual intercourse) announced Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, a division of Wyeth (NYSE: WYE). (read more)
