The Initiative for Multipurpose Prevention Technologies (IMPT)
Every day, over 1000 women die from preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth. Worldwide, young women are among the hardest hit by exposure to sexually transmitted diseases (STIs), such as HIV, as well as unintended pregnancies. Despite the obvious biological, behavioral, and physiological linkages between the risk for unintended pregnancy and infections, researchers working to prevent pregnancy, HIV, and other STIs often work in "silos", separately tackling these interconnected challenges. This is due in part to funding streams, diverse areas of scientific expertise, and few opportunities for dialogue and information exchange. There is an urgent need to foster research strategies that enable the development and introduction of multipurpose prevention technologies (MPTs) to simultaneously address these reproductive health risks.
The Initiative for Multipurpose Prevention Technologies (IMPT) has a vital goal – helping researchers, health care providers, policymakers, advocates, product developers, and donors work together to develop multipurpose prevention technologies (MPTs) to protect women against unintended pregnancy, illnesses and infections. Convenient and easy-to-use products that simultaneously prevent these adverse outcomes will help women overcome many of the challenges they face in meeting their health needs. Such products would be especially valuable in resource-limited setting where they could make a major contribution to reproductive health and families’ welfare.
What are MPTs?
Multipurpose Prevention Technologies, sometimes called "combination" or "dual protection" technologies, include topical gels or creams known as microbicides, devices such as vaginal rings or diaphragms, or vaccines designed to address more than one reproductive health need at a time – for example, providing contraception while also providing protection against sexually transmitted infections, including HIV. Acceptable, affordable, safe, and widely available MPTs would save lives and money, and improve the lives of women and their families as well.
Right now, only the male and female condom can be considered multipurpose technologies, but they have limitations. They must be used consistently and correctly, men (and some women) often dislike them and may refuse to use them; they're also easy to forget. Other approaches such as creams, gels, pills, vaccines, or vaginal rings or inserts would make it possible for women to decide about their use and might be more acceptable and convenient.
Versions are already on the market. They need improvement, development and, eventually, distribution. That’s where the Initiative comes in.