Host cell infection by sexually transmitted disease (STD)-causing microbes and fertilization by spermatozoa may have some mechanisms in common. If so, certain noncytotoxic agents could inhibit the functional activity of both organisms. High molecular mass poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate) (T-PSS) may be one of these compounds. T-PSS alone (1 mg/ml) or in a gel (2% or 5% T-PSS) completely prevented conception in the rabbit. Contraception was not due to sperm cytotoxicity or to an effect on sperm migration. However, T-PSS inhibited sperm hyaluronidase (IC(50) = 5.3 microg/ml) and acrosin (IC(50) = 0.3 microg/ml) and caused the loss of acrosomes from spermatozoa (85% maximal loss by 0.5 microg/ml). T-PSS (5% in gel) also reduced sperm penetration into bovine cervical mucus (73% inhibition by 1 mg gel/ml). T-PSS (5% in gel) inhibited human immunodeficiency virus (HIV; IC(50)= 16 microg gel/ml) and herpes simplex viruses (HSV-1 and HSV-2; IC(50) = 1.3 and 1.0 microg gel/ml, respectively). The drug showed high efficacy against a number of clinical isolates and laboratory strains. T-PSS (5% in gel) also inhibited Neisseria gonorrhea (IC(50) < 1.0 gel/ml) and Chlamydia trachomatis (IC(50) = 1.2 microg gel/ml) but had no effect on lactobacilli. These results imply that T-PSS is an effective functional inhibitor of both spermatozoa and certain STD-causing microbes. The noncytotoxic nature should make T-PSS safe for vaginal use. T-PSS was nonmutagenic in vitro and possessed an acute oral toxicity of >5 g/kg (rat). Gel with 10% T-PSS did not irritate the skin or penile mucosa (rabbit) and caused no dermal sensitization (guinea pig). Vaginal administration of the 5% T-PSS gel to the rabbit for 14 consecutive days caused no systemic toxicity and only mild (acceptable) vaginal irritation. T-PSS in gel form is worthy of clinical evaluation as a vaginal contraceptive HIV/STD preventative.