help please

[gnom]

http://www.fda.gov/cber/infosheets/hiv-home2.htm

Consumers should be aware that there are numerous HIV home testing systems that are marketed on the Internet, in newspapers and in magazines that are NOT FDA approved. If you are unsure if an HIV test is FDA approved, you can always look for the test on our list of FDA approved HIV tests (http://www.fda.gov/cber/products/testkits.htm).

yeah, must be  better to buy approved then not approved, orasure is approved, as its states at FDA link provided,

approved and legally marketed in USA http://home-hiv-tests.com/

[gnom]

hi, i came out with new question:

Is it safe for female to have an unprotected sex if she has a natural sponge inside her vagina for protection from pregnancy and hiv?

and before anyone asks- No, i do not practice that, just came out with the question
thanks

[Ann]

gnom,

Although they are working on a microbicide that will enable a woman to protect herself with something like a sponge (when the sponge has been soaked in the microbicide), there isn't one available yet. So the short answer is NO, a woman cannot protect herself from hiv with a special sponge. I'm not even sure if there is one for preventing pregnancy, but I know for a fact that there isn't one (yet) that will prevent hiv.

There are only two things thus far that will prevent hiv infection.

One is abstinence. It looks good on paper, but mighty difficult to practice in real life.

The other is the use of condoms. Correct, consistent use of condoms has been proven to prevent hiv infection.

Please have a look at the condom and lube links in my signature line. In fact, look for the "Female Controlled Methods" link on the left hand side of either of those pages. If you follow that link, you'll find microbicide info there. Check it out.

Ann