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UK condom maker SSL International has refused to comment on reports it may be subject to a takeover early in 2005.

A Financial Times report said business intelligence firm GPW was understood to be starting due diligence work on SSL International, for a corporate client.

An spokesman for SSL, which makes the famous Durex brand of condom, would not to comment on "market speculation".

However the news sent shares in SSL, which also makes Scholl footwear, up more than 6%, or 16.75 pence to 293.5p.

Going Dutch?

The FT said most the high-profile firm that might woo SSL was Anglo-Dutch household products group Reckitt Benckiser.

Eighteen months ago Reckitt Benckiser was at the centre of a rumoured takeover bid for SSL - but that came to nothing.

Other firms that have been seen as would-be suitors include Kimberly-Clark, Johnson & Johnson, and private equity investors.

Analysts have seen SSL as a takeover target for years.

It sold off its surgical gloves and antiseptics businesses for ?173m to a management team in May.

SSL was formed by a three-way merger between Seton Healthcare, footwear specialists Scholl and condom-maker London International Group.

Its other brands include Syndol analgesic, Meltus cough medicine, Sauber compression hosiery and deodorant products, and Mister Baby.

BBC News

Having reconstructive surgery does not reduce the life expectancy of women with breast cancer, research suggests.

In fact women who had breast implants after a mastectomy had a lower risk of dying from cancer, the study involving 5,000 patients over 12 years found.

The study, carried out by the Northern California Cancer Center, is reported in the journal Breast Cancer Research.

Previous studies have suggested breast implants might make it harder for doctors to interpret scans.

Life expectancy

However, scientists found no evidence that the problems led to cancer reaching a more advanced stage before it was picked up.

Neither did breast augmentation appear to increase the risk of developing breast cancer.

The latest study provides further reassurance that the long-term effects of breast implants are favourable.

Out of the 21% of women in the study who had had an implant after a mastectomy for a breast tumour, there was a 12.4% risk of death from the cancer returning.

In comparison, the risk was 19.7% among the women without implants.

The better life expectancy among the women with implants persisted even when the researchers controlled for factors such as the woman's age and medical history.

They said: "Certainly, further research is needed to explain this survival differential in women with breast implants and those without."

It might be that implants boost self-esteem, which could improve survival, they said.

Screening scans

Also, having an implant might mean that the woman has more medical check ups.

Surgeons may not recommend implants to women with health conditions, such as obesity or smoking, that may contribute to post-operative complications, they said.

Some studies have suggested that breast implants may also stimulate the immune system and reduce blood flow to the breast, thereby impairing cell and tumour growth.

Professor Alan Ashworth of Breakthrough Breast Cancer said: "This study adds to the current research suggesting that breast implants do not increase the risk of breast cancer and we would welcome further research which explains the difference in mortality rates.

"However, implants can make it harder to see breast tissue on mammograms, so when being screened it is important that the radiographer is aware if you have breast implants.

"The option of reconstruction is very important for women undergoing a mastectomy and they also should receive advice about the various prosthetics available and have the opportunity to see a realistic portrayal of the outcome."

Laura Trapani, Information Nurse at Breast Cancer Care, said: "Women can now make a more informed choice regarding implants."

BBC News

HIV/Aids still carries a high level of stigma and misunderstanding in the UK despite education programmes, a survey has found.

A fifth of the UK public agreed that: "It is people's own fault if they get HIV/Aids".

One in 10 believes the virus can be caught by kissing.

Marie Stopes International, who commissioned NOP to carry out the survey of about 2,000 adults, said the results were shocking.

Almost one quarter (23%) said that drug users who contracted the virus through infected needles should be denied free treatment on the NHS.

A further 26% agreed that people should have the right to know who in their community has HIV/Aids.

Others were confused about how the virus can be caught.

Some 5% thought you could catch HIV by eating with the same cutlery as someone who has the virus, and 4% thought you could get it from a toilet seat.

Ros Davies of Interact Worldwide, which worked with MSI on the survey, said the findings showed many people also still mistakenly perceived HIV/Aids as a disease affecting only minority groups, such gay men, drug users and prostitutes.

"The reality is that HIV/Aids should be an issue of concern to us all, especially young people.

"The latest figures from the World Health Organisation and UNAIDS show that HIV infection is now the fastest growing serious health condition in the UK and many other countries across the globe, where women are particularly at risk of becoming HIV positive.

"It's clearly no longer the 'minority' disease it once was."

'Shocking'

MSI's Patricia Hindmarsh said: "A high proportion of respondents - 60% - agreed that they would have more sympathy for a person who contracts HIV/Aids through a blood transfusion than from having promiscuous sex.

"This is particularly shocking as it shows that people are making judgements and assigning 'blameworthiness' in their response to the disease.

"Aids doesn't discriminate - people do."

She said a new government funded campaign that tackled both public awareness and addressed the stigma that still surrounds HIV/Aids was needed.

"The last significant national public campaign was in the mid 80s and two generations of young people have become sexually active since then.

"This should be seen as a major priority."

Last week, the government announced a ?300m campaign to tackle HIV and other sexually transmitted infections in the UK. Fifty million pounds of this will go on an advertising campaign for under 25s.

It promises to be the most high-profile of its kind since the hard-hitting HIV advertisements in the 1980s, which featured TV commercials showing tombstones engraved with the words "Don't die of ignorance".

BBC News

Exposure to alcohol makes mouth cells more susceptible to HIV infection during oral sex, research has shown.

Earlier studies focused on how alcohol consumption increased the chance of someone having unprotected sex and therefore risking HIV infection.

But the team from the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) looked at how alcohol affected cells.

The research is published in the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome.

Cells from the lining of the mouth, the epithelium, were obtained from people who were HIV negative.

The cells were then exposed to various concentrations of alcohol, similar to those found in beers, and then to a strain of HIV which had been modified with green fluorescent protein so that researchers could see if it infected cells.

It was found that epithelial cells which had been exposed to 4% of ethanol for 10 minutes showed between a three to six-fold greater susceptibility to infection from the HIV strain.

CD4 count

HIV attacks a particular type of white blood cells called CD4+ cells.

White blood cells adhere to endothelial cells.

HIV hijacks the cell, inserting its own genes into the cell's DNA and uses it to manufacture more virus particles. These go on to infect other cells.

The CD4+ host cells eventually die, although scientists do not know exactly how.

The body's ability to fight diseases decreases as the number of CD4+ cells drops, until it reaches a critical point at which the patient is said to have Aids - Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome.

Deborah Jack, chief executive of the National Aids Trust, said the UCLA study was useful.

"We always welcome new research into the risks of HIV transmission, but these are very early findings and much more work needs to be done to prove a biological link between alcohol and HIV transmission.

"However, the influence of alcohol on the decision whether or not to have unprotected sex has already been established and particularly at this time of year we urge people to enjoy the festive season safely. "

BBC News

Women in Romania are increasingly deciding to donate their eggs to infertile couples.

The country still has a relatively poor standard of living, and women can earn £150, a month's wages, if they donate.

One clinic in Bucharest has as many donors as all the clinics in Britain put together.

This means that infertile women from abroad, including 10 a month from the UK, go to Romania for the treatment each month.

Mihaela Simbotin is a student who also has a part-time job to help pay her rent.

She says she wants to donate her eggs - but not for the money.

"I would feel awful if I couldn't have kids, and I would want to.

"And there are a lot of couples who don't have this opportunity.

"If I can do something to help them, why shouldn't I?"

Ethics

Women who donate eggs have to undergo hormone treatment and have their eggs surgically removed.

If women from the UK who want to receive a donor egg rely on the service in their own country, they could be waiting up to seven years.

Mary, who is in her 40s, has had problems conceiving and thinks a Romanian egg donor is her best option.

She said: "I would much rather it could happen in the UK, in a timescale that was appropriate for me. But that's not going to happen at the moment."

But there are concerns that the high fee paid to women in Romania may lead to exploitation of women for their eggs.

Dr Stephen Wilkinson, an ethics specialist at Keele University, said: "It's such a difficult area of ethics. One the one hand, people are benefiting from the money. But on the other, we do have this residual concern about exploitation and about inducing women to do something that's not in their best interests."

The UK is considering introducing a fee of £1,000 for women who donate eggs, because 90% of clinics cannot currently meet demand.

But if the shortage continues, it may mean that women continue to travel to clinics in Romania for their treatment.

By Gill Higgins
BBC Health Correspondent

BBC News

Uganda's First Lady has called for a census of the sexual habits of the country's younger generation as part of the fight against HIV/Aids.

"We need to find out the percentage of the youth who never had sex, those who have reverted to secondary abstinence," said Janet Museveni.

Uganda is often held up as a model of how to fight Aids.

In the early 1990s, some 15% of adults were HIV positive but after a vigorous campaign, this has fallen to 5%.

Momentum lost

Mrs Museveni has backed a campaign for young Ugandans to pledge abstinence until marriage and next week will host a party for some 70,000 virgins.

They are due to march through the streets of the capital, Kampala, on their way to the event, reports the New Vision newspaper.

Abstinence has always been part of the Ugandan government's campaign against HIV/Aids but condoms have also been well promoted.

In September, South Africa's Deputy President Jacob Zuma called for girls to take virginity tests to help reduce the spread of Aids.

This was countered by human rights groups, who said that virginity tests were a human rights violation.

Speaking on World Aids Day, Mrs Museveni said she feared that Uganda's early success against Aids was not being kept up.

"The fact that prevalence rates of HIV/Aids have not continued to drop as in the late 1990s, in my opinion, it means this country did not keep up the momentum of the campaign that yielded significant results," she was quoted as saying by the Monitor newspaper.

BBC News

TV shows like Footballers' Wives and teen magazines are being used to teach children about sex in schools.

Educationalists came up with the idea because they say youngsters feel embarrassed talking about sex with teachers or parents, reports the Guardian.

Youngsters aged 12 to 15 are studying titles like Bliss, Sugar and Mizz as part of a course which has been trialled in several schools and will be available to teachers next spring.

The MediaRelate project was devised after research found many young people preferred to gain information on sex and relationships from the media.

Pupils interviewed were "generally very critical" of sex education lessons in school, but were also embarrassed to discuss such issues with their parents, the study concluded.

"They preferred media such as teenage magazines and soap operas on the grounds that they were often more informative, less embarrassing to use and more attuned to their needs and concerns."

Earlier this year the Association of Teachers and Lecturers said teen magazines should carry age restrictions on their front covers, warning that they "glamorise promiscuity".

The shadow education secretary, Tim Collins, said he was very concerned that the magazines were being used in schools to teach children under the age of 16.

He said it did "little to promote feelings of love, romance and self-respect, concentrating instead on fleeting gratification".

Ananova.com

For more than a month now, Boots has been in discussions about stocking sex toys on its shelves, but while interest from prospective supplier SSL is heating up, it seems the health retailer may have a case of cold feet.

SSL International is now considering high street alternatives from which to launch its "play range", after news emerged yesterday that Boots was having second thoughts about selling vibrators and massagers across its 1,400 stores.

Was the story of the link-up all just a bit of fuss to create a wave of publicity, or perhaps a litmus test for the press and public?

Whether or not Boots does indeed have cold feet, after much talk about Methodist founders and family values, there's no doubt that SSL has itchy feet - a fact Boots willingly concedes.

Yes, they are in talks, but if Boots does not come to an agreement, SSL - the world's largest condom manufacturer - is keen to find another high street retailer.

"We don't want to shock or offend," a spokesman for SSL said yesterday. "This is a well designed, discreet range of products that we want to move off the back streets and into the high street.

"Boots is a logical choice for that, and a highly appropriate choice - but there are others," he said.

Neither side would be tied down to a timeframe yesterday, despite earlier mentions of a launch early next year; nor would anyone comment on the status of discussions.

"We never said we were definitely going to do it," a Boots spokesman, Donal McCabe, said yesterday.

"We've been in discussion with them for a long time - and we're not putting a deadline on this. We'll make the decision when it's right for us."

The initial proposal had been attractive to Boots, and slotted in nicely as part of the plan to strengthen its appeal to women.

But with Boots fearing that the Durex Play range may damage the brand, talks have now escalated from middle management to board level.

Whatever the decision, SSL will launch its range in the first half of next year, according to its chief executive, Garry Watts.

Boots, in the meantime, may well decide to play it safe. Following failed initiatives such as laser eye correction, dentistry and chiropody, the retailer is going back to basics to improve its financial position.

"Our position hasn't changed since the story first broke," Mr McCabe said.

"We're aware SSL want to get these into stores on the high street. And if SSL plans to do that, then that is up to SSL."

Shares in SSL International fell more than 3% yesterday after the news that Boots may have been reconsidering.

Lee Glendinning

The Guardian

Prices slashed as sexually transmitted infections soar

With incidences of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) rising sharply, and cash-strapped clinics struggling to cope, the problem has reached crisis point. But what exactly is a supermarket doing getting involved?

In a somewhat left-field move this week, supermarket chain Asda donned a new mantle as corporate crusader against the spread of STIs. No longer content to flog foodstuffs and fashion, the retailer has taken to promoting prophylactics.

"It is everyone's responsibility to look after their and their partner's sexual wellbeing," its non-food director, Tony Page, declares.

With the Christmas party season in full swing, Asda says it is slashing the price of condoms "in a bid to get more people using them due to the rise in sexually transmitted infection".

But despite the worthy words, Asda is not exactly staking out some sort of moral high ground. The pursuit of profit, not philanthropy, remains at the heart of its strategy. In short, it wants to sell more condoms.

The retailer's research identifies parts of the country where the smallest number of condoms are purchased. Those least likely to "get raunchy with the rubber" include folk in Stowmarket, Dumbarton, Tamworth and Watford, it says.

However, its store in Chesser, Edinburgh, sells more condoms per square foot than any other Asda outlet.

The retailer's latest sales spiel focuses on the convenience of dropping in to a local shop. "Many of our stores are open longer than ever before, so it's easy to pick up your protection with your weekly shop - or, if you unexpectedly get lucky and you have no condoms, exactly when you need them."

Mary O'Hara

The Guardian

Ralf Schumacher has pulled out of plans for a chain of sex shops in Slovenia and Croatia after a German comedian made fun of him.

Stefan Raab gave the younger brother of seven times world champion Michael Schumacher the nickname 'Porno-Ralle' and dubbed his wife Cora as 'Hard Cora'.

The jokes came after the F1 star agreed to take a 50 per cent stake in the chain with the backing of the Austrian branch of the Beate Uhse Company - one of Europe's biggest erotic goods companies.

The first shops are to open in Slovenia with more following in Croatia, according to the Croatina news agency Hina and the Slovenia agency STA.

Schumacher had invested a reported £1.3. million into opening the first five shops in Slovenia next year, but has now announced though manager Willi Weber that he will be pulling out.

Ralf told Bild newspaper: "It's become a campaign against me. My role as an example to others is more important than any money.

"What Stefan Raab has done with my name and that of my wife was far too personal. I have a son to think of."

Schumacher, 29, is planning a million dollar legal suit against Raab saying the sex jokes amounted to a campaign that forced them to abandon their plans in the sex empire.

Mr Weber said the legal papers were already on their way to Raab, who declined to comment when contacted by German media.

He said: "Raab went too far, he has damaged the Schumacher honour."

Ananova.com