Post written by Tishina Okegbe, FHI 360
Imagine using one product or method to safeguard against an unwanted pregnancy or a sexually transmitted infection. Well, there’s a technology for that – more specifically, multipurpose prevention technologies, or MPTs. MPTs serve a dual purpose in addressing the sexual and reproductive health needs of women— preventing against unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections, including HIV acquisition. MPTs can include contraceptives, vaccines and microbicides, in addition to devices such as vaginal rings and diaphragms.
Ten years ago, the Initiative for Multipurpose Prevention Technologies (IMPT) was launched with the goal of moving the emerging field forward. IMPT serves as a product neutral backbone organization to facilitate action-oriented collaborations. In the subsequent years, the MPT technology field has blossomed, with researchers and product developers undertaking the challenge of conceiving and bringing to market these dual-purpose products to improve the lives of women and families worldwide.
Read more about the advances in the MPT field in IMPT’s interactive ten-year retrospective report.
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