This archive report was first published on 9 December 2019.
December 9, 2019 - In a significant breakthrough, researchers have successfully developed a once-a-month oral contraceptive pill, providing women with more options to manage their fertility.
The new pill is designed to remain in the stomach for weeks, slowly releasing hormones to prevent pregnancy. This innovative design makes it an ideal choice for women who struggle to remember to take their daily contraceptive pills.
According to studies, nearly half of users miss their daily dose or take it at the wrong time, leading to unplanned pregnancies. The once-a-month pill aims to address this issue by offering a more convenient and reliable form of birth control.
Dr. Giovanni Traverso from Harvard Medical School, who developed the prototype with colleagues at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, explained that the pill is designed to resist stomach acids and remain in the stomach for weeks. "The pill is big enough to immediately exit the stomach and will remain there for weeks until it has finished its job and can be broken down and excreted from the body," he said.
Testing of the pills on patients is ongoing to determine if it can safely and reliably deliver other drugs, such as malaria therapies. Dr. Masahide Kanayama, a gynaecologist with eMediHealth, believes that having several options for women will improve their decision-making regarding their health and fertility.
Dr. Diana Mansour, from the Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare, agrees that a monthly oral contraceptive pill will broaden contraceptive choices for women.
