What are Cervical Barriers as HIV Prevention? Studies of cervical barriers as HIV-prevention methods aim to reduce women’s risk of HIV infection by covering the cervix (the lower entrance of the uterus), which is thought to be highly vulnerable to HIV infection. The first device in this class to be tested for protection against HIV is the diaphragm, one of the oldest contraceptive methods. It is a dome shaped cup which can be made out of silicone, rubber or latex.
Cervical Barriers Investment Global investment in cervical barriers as a method of HIV prevention totaled US$621,000 from the philanthropic sector in 2008. In 2007, the MIRA trial testing a latex diaphragm in 4,500 at-risk HIV-uninfected women in South Africa and Zimbabwe was completed. The scientific premise for the trial was that using a diaphragm would physically block HIV access to the cervix and thus potentially reduce the risk of HIV transmission. The trial results did not show that use of a diaphragm prevented HIV acquisition among women and may explain the reduced investment in this approach in 2008.