San Francisco may ban nonoxynol-9

San Francisco supervisor Mark Leno this week requested a citywide ban on the sale of personal lubricants containing the spermicide nonoxynol-9 because of studies that show the compound makes it easier to be infected with HIV, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. Nonoxynol-9 was studied by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to determine if the sperm-killing compound also killed HIV or otherwise prevented HIV infection, but it was found to facilitate infection by irritating genital mucosal tissues. Other studies showed that the spermicide does not prevent chlamydia or gonorrhea infections. Leno called lubricants containing nonoxynol-9 "a danger to public health and should be banned as soon as possible." A bill banning the sale of the lubricants may be introduced next month.