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About New Contraception Methods

Contraceptive methods has developed dramatically in the past 50 years. Since the days of natural family planning and the introduction of the female contraceptive pill and the latex male condom, the options available to adults as of 2011 wishing to prevent pregnancy are becoming much more extensive. Most of the new contraception methods, some of which have not yet been approved, are based on controlling the male or female sex hormones.

  1. Contraceptive Female Implant

    • The implant, which has been licensed for just more than a decade, is a small tube that contains the female sex hormone, progesterone. It is inserted into the upper arm and prevents the ovaries from releasing an egg each month through a gradual release of progesterone while also thinning the womb's lining to make it less likely for a fertilized egg to survive. The most common side effects include lighter and/or irregular periods --- and in some cases no periods at all. The implant can last up to three years, so it is a popular option for women who do not plan on having children for an extended period of time. It is more than 99 percent effective, with less than one pregnancy in every 1,000 women who use it, according to NHS Choices.

    Vaginal Hormone Ring

    • The vaginal hormone ring, also known as the NuvaRing, is inserted into the vagina and kept there for three out of four weeks each month. During the week that the ring is removed, a woman will have her period. It works in the same way as the pill, releasing both progesterone and estrogen but without the need to remember to insert it each day. According to Net Doctor, it has been approved in 32 countries but was only accepted in the UK in June 2009. Because it is a new form of contraception, long-term side effects are not yet known. However, statistics so far suggest that vaginal inflammation, headache, discharge and nausea can be associated with using the product.

    Pregnancy Vaccine

    • With this method, women are vaccinated against a hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), which is released by the body when an egg has been fertilized. The vaccine acts as a buffer against the hormone, whereby antibodies are created at the sign of HCG production, similar to when the body fights an infection, which in turn terminates the embryo. The vaccine lasts for approximately one year. The vaccine is still being tested and has not yet been licensed, but concerns have been expressed by the Feminist Women's Health Centre about the dangers of artificially causing an autoimmune response to a naturally occurring hormone and its implications for possible long-term side-effects.

    Male Contraceptive Pill

    • The male pill contains progesterone and is combined with a patch attached to the skin that contains testosterone (the male sex hormone). According to Contracept, this method has been found to lower a man's sperm count to zero without having any long-term affects on fertility. Side effects include headaches, cramping in the abdomen and depression. This method is still being extensively researched and could take the form of an injection or implant instead of a pill. Net Doctor estimates that it will not be available for the next three to four years.

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