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The 'pill' is the contraceptive that, according to United Nations data, is used worldwide by 14% of women between 15 and 49 years old.
To avoid forgetfulness that can result in unwanted pregnancies, researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) are developing an oral contraceptive that is taken once a month, according to an article published this Wednesday by Science Translational Medicine.
The 'pill' is the contraceptive that, according to United Nations data, is used worldwide by 14% of women between 15 and 49 years old, but its effectiveness depends on daily administration and it is estimated that around 9% of Women who use the pill get pregnant every year.
It is not, however, the most common method worldwide and is surpassed by female sterilization (30%) and intrauterine devices (21%).
"We hope that this work, which is the first example of a capsule that is effective for one month as far as we know, will lead to new options for women's health and also for other indications," said Robert Langer, a professor at the David Institute. H. Koch of MIT.
The new contraceptive is contained in a gelatin-coated capsule and can carry enough of the compound for three weeks. Once swallowed, the capsule remains in the stomach and, under the action of gastric fluids, unfolds into a star shape and gradually releases the contraceptive.
The article noted that tests done on pigs showed that this form of gradual administration of the compound can reach the same concentration in the blood that would occur with daily administration.
Langer and his colleague Giovanni Traverso, a gastroenterologist at Brigham and Mueres Hospital, have already tested the method with drugs for treating malaria and compounds against the human immunodeficiency virus that also require daily administration.
