New 'safer' contraceptive drug under development
Researchers say they have uncovered a new contraceptive for women which is more focused and safer to use.
Unlike the commonly used ‘pill’ the new method is not hormonal and instead focuses on mechanisms that directly result in the release of an egg.
Currently under development at the Oregon Health and Science University, the contraceptive targets the key enzymes responsible for the process, in order to prevent the release of an egg from the ovary.
Researchers must now determine the delivery method of such a drug and the timetable for medication.
Jon Hennebold, PHD, said: “Our hope is that the next generation of birth control is more targeted and has a higher effectiveness level. Much more work is necessary to further our proposed solution, but we believe that better, safer contraceptive methods are possible.”
The current contraceptive pill has been around since 1961 and works by boosting hormone levels through the use of synthetic hormones in order to interrupt the normal menstrual cycle.
Hennebold and his team say that while the method works, they are concerned about the way it affects systems throughout a woman’s body and the associated side effects, such as cardiovascular disease.
