Correlation between detergent activity and anti-herpes simplex virus-2 activity of commercially available vaginal gels.

OBJECTIVE: Herpes simplex virus-2 (HSV-2) infections are almost exclusively sexually transmitted. The presence of vaginal gels during sexual activity may have a significant positive or negative impact on viral transmission. Therefore we investigated three off-the-shelf vaginal lubricants and one pH restoring gel to evaluate their impact on HSV-2 replication. RESULTS: HeLa cells were infected with untreated virions and virions incubated with the particular gels. The accumulation of viral genomes was monitored by quantitative PCR (qPCR) method at 24 h post infection. Two of the tested gels had no significant effect on HSV-2 replication at the maximum applied concentration, while two had a strong inhibitory effect (~ 98% reduction of replication). The replication inhibitory effect was observed at various multiplicity of infection (MOI 0.4-6.4) and the two inhibitory gels were also capable of inhibiting the HSV-2 induced cytopathic effect on HeLa cells. The surface tension decreasing activity-an indication of detergent activity-was strongly correlated with the anti-HSV-2 activity of the gels (R2: 0.88). Our results indicate that off-the-shelf vaginal gels have a markedly different anti-HSV-2 activity that may influence HSV-2 transmission.

Knowledge and attitudes of female university students on menstrual cycle and contraception.

Socioeconomic changes, as well as the development of new contraceptive modalities may influence women's preferences in the selection of a method of contraception. The aim of this study was to evaluate the knowledge, opinions and attitudes of female university students regarding the menstrual cycle, sexual health and contraception. A questionnaire-based survey was conducted among 2572 female university students in Hungary, Romania and Serbia, between November 2009 and January 2011. A higher proportion of students of health sciences than students of other faculties had appropriate knowledge of the fertile period within a menstrual cycle: 86.0%, 71.5% (p = .02) and 61.1% vs. 71.9% (p < .001), 59.8% and 43.2% (p < .001) in Hungary, Romania and Serbia, respectively. Overall, more than 69% of the female university students believed in the need for monthly menstruation in order to be healthy; however, merely 30 to 40% of them wished to have monthly bleeding. In general, the respondents were aware of the importance of menstruation in relation to sexual health; however, they wished to suppress the menstruation-related symptoms. Differences in the knowledge and attitudes of female university students of the three assessed countries may be explained in part by cultural differences, and in part by the nature of their studies.

Knowledge and attitudes of pharmacists regarding over-the-counter emergency contraception in South-Eastern Hungary.

OBJECTIVES: In Hungary, the one-dose levonorgestrel-only emergency contraception pill (ECP) is available only with prescription. There is a perceived need among both doctors and women to introduce ECP over-the-counter (OTC). The aim of this study was to gain information--which, as in most geographical areas, was lacking so far--on the knowledge and attitude of pharmacists relating to OTC use of ECP in South-Eastern Hungary. METHODS: A questionnaire survey with 22 questions was conducted among the members of the Chamber of Pharmacists in the three-county area. RESULTS: Completed questionnaires were returned by 108 pharmacists. The vast majority (97%) of the respondents were aware of the dosing schedule of the available ECP. Nearly three quarters (73.4%) of the pharmacists estimated the effectiveness of ECP to be 80%. However, the knowledge around side effects, mode of action and effect on the menstrual cycle varied. Fifty-five per cent of the pharmacists would prefer OTC distribution of ECP. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study in Hungary about knowledge and awareness of pharmacists regarding ECP. Most respondents were reasonably informed but further training courses for pharmacists are recommended before introducing OTC access to ECP in Hungary.