Monthly gelatine contraceptive pill developed by scientists
Written by News on 05/12/2019
A contraceptive pill women only need to take once a month has been developed by scientists.
The gelatine capsule is designed to sit in the stomach for weeks, slowly releasing the hormones required to prevent a pregnancy.
A US research team, funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, said the pill would offer women more choice and control over their fertility.
It added it would also allay the concerns of women worried about forgetting to take a daily dose, thereby reducing unwanted pregnancies.
Trials on pigs found animals given the tablet had the same level of the hormone in their bloodstream as those given a daily dose.
The study, published in the Science Translational Medicine journal, said the hormone was still present in the pigs 29 days after administration.
Researchers said they hoped human trials could begin within a few years.
“Patient adherence to medications can be increased by reducing dosing frequency,” the research team wrote in its report.
“Adherence to monthly therapies is greater than adherence to weekly and daily therapies. Hence, an orally administered long-acting contraceptive could improve patient adherence in the population that prefers pills.”
Oral contraceptives are among the most popular forms of birth control and are taken by millions of women across the globe.
Ameya Kirtane, of the Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, said: “Coming up with a monthly version of a contraceptive drug could have a tremendous impact on global health.
“The impact that oral contraceptives can have on human health and gender equality cannot be overstated.”
(c) Sky News 2019: Monthly gelatine contraceptive pill developed by scientists
