Researchers have developed a skin patch that will greatly facilitate contraception in the near future. Innovative birth control patches inject hormones under the skin with tiny microneedles. Advantages: long-term effect, no need to consult a doctor and the possibility of use at any time of the day.
What are the benefits of the new method of contraception?
Most Russians use either hormone pills or condoms. Nevertheless, there are several alternatives for women on the market - hormonal implants or a spiral.
Such methods of contraception have a decisive advantage: they work from several months to several years. However, some women do not tolerate implants or coils very well, so they avoid going to the doctor and possibly having an unpleasant procedure.
Scientists have solved this problem: they have developed a long-term method of contraception, which any layman can use himself.
Trick: Instead of a spiral that is inserted into the uterus, a simple patch is used.
Biodegradable polymers that contain progestin-levonorgestrel are integrated into the tiny microneedle.
When a woman applies a patch, small needles penetrate the skin painlessly and gradually release hormonal contraceptives. To ensure continuous release of the drug, there is no need to put on a patch every 1-2 weeks.
According to the researchers, the patch can be removed after a few seconds. Reason: they designed microneedles so that they can be easily separated from the skin. Thanks to the built-in structural weakness in the form of air bubbles, microneedles come off even when the patch moves on the skin. Then they remain in the body, and the patch itself can be disposed of in garbage.
How effective is a skin patch?
Scientists have tested the effectiveness of contraceptives in experiments on rats. Promising result: a single application of the patch provided a high level of levonorgestrel in the blood of animals for more than one month. This is enough to theoretically prevent pregnancy.
For human use, the patch studied in the study with approximately 100 microneedles is too small. According to scientists, they have already developed a larger version that can release a large number of hormones. However, the patch may require repeated administration every 6 months.
Interest in new options for long-term contraception is great.
Using the new method, scientists are going to give women the opportunity to use contraception on their own. Allowing the use of contraceptive patches in practice can make life easier for many women.
Patches are especially relevant in regions where the medical infrastructure is imperfect and poorly developed.
Who can’t use the patch?
For certain diseases or allergies, birth control patches should not be used. Sometimes the use of the drug is not hazardous to health, but is not recommended.
In studies, the most common contraindication was an allergic reaction. However, the frequency of allergies was not higher than when using other similar drugs.
0.3-1% of patients, with proper use of patches, refused treatment due to side effects. Like tablets, birth control if used properly is a very safe method of contraception.
Skin irritation is more common in obese people. With a body weight of more than 90 kg, the reliability of the contraceptive method is reduced. Women will only need to renew the patch once every 6 months. The new method of contraception does not depend on the ambient temperature.
Some medications, including antiepileptic, antiviral, and hypericum, affect the effectiveness of the birth control patch.
In studies on rats, scientists have found that the drug is also able to interact with other local remedies. Therefore, ointments and gels can not be applied to the patch injection site for about 5-10 days.
