A new research has revealed that taking a preventative HIV medication has great potential to help stay prevented against the herpes virus as well. A randomized trial showed that participants who took it to prevent HIV infection as the main reason in the trial actually developed extra protection from herpes virus.

Participants in the trial were asked to take daily doses of tenofovir. The drug is known to reduce the risk of HIV contraction by 75%. However, the trial clearly indicated that the drug also provides a shield against herpes contraction.

The extra protection significantly reduces the chances of transmission of HIV virus. The risk of HIV contraction increases because of the presence of herpes.

The researchers did the testing for the impact of the drug tenofovir only after the analysis of a pericoital gel containing 1% of the drug was confirmed to have high efficacy to prevent transmission of the herpes virus. After this, several analysis led the researchers to a conclusion that tenofovir is also very useful against the herpes virus.

The results of the trial excited the researchers as 33% of people exposed to the herpes stayed prevented from the virus after taking doses of tenofovir.