Table 1.

Overview of female-controlled HIV prevention methods

Female condom	Effective in reducing HIV transmission, but limitations include cost, lack of covertness and the potential noise the latex can make during intercourse
Diaphragms	No evidence of efficacy in reducing infection rates to women
Microbicides	Multiple failures from trials of older non-antiretroviral-based microbicides; 39% reduction in HIV acquisition with vaginal 1% tenofovir gel before and after sex in one study, but no protection found with daily or pericoital use in two other studies where adherence was poor; ~30% reduction in HIV acquisition with dapivirine-containing vaginal ring in two studies, but limited protection among women <21 years in the setting of poor adherence. Alternative drugs and delivery systems, such as vaginal films and rings, are in development and in early trials
Oral pre-exposure prophylaxis	Effective in reducing HIV transmission in heterosexual women and men in two studies, but not effective in two studies in women at risk for HIV infection where adherence was poor
Injectable pre-exposure prophylaxis	Several drugs in early trials, including long-acting cabotegravir and rilpivirine
Partner antiretroviral treatment	Reduces risk of transmission to uninfected partners