Prevention

Some commonly considered pharmaceutical interventions for the prevention of HIV include the use of the following:

• microbicides for sexually transmitted diseases
• pre-exposure prophylaxis
• post-exposure prophylaxis
• HIV vaccines
• circumcision (see also Circumcision and HIV)^[1]
• antiretroviral drugs to reduce viral load in the infected, and
• condoms

Of these, the only universally medically proven method for preventing the spread of HIV during sexual intercourse is the correct use of condoms, and condoms are also the only method promoted by health authorities worldwide. For HIV positive mothers wishing to prevent the spread of HIV to their child during birth, antiretroviral drugs have been medically proven to reduce the likelihood of the spread of the infection. Scientists worldwide are currently researching other prevention systems.

Increased risk of contracting HIV often correlates with infection by other diseases, particularly other sexually transmitted infections. Medical professionals and scientists recommend treatment or prevention of other infections such as herpes, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, human papillomavirus, syphilis, gonorrhea, and tuberculosis as an indirect way to prevent the spread of HIV infection. Often doctors treat these conditions with pharmaceutical interventions.