Scientists have developed a long-lasting birth control patch they hope can give women more autonomy over family planning, reduce the number of doctor office visits and be widely distributed in developing countries.
The patch, which is still being tested in animals, is made up of micro-needles, the same technology researchers have evaluated in administering the flu vaccine.
The patch is applied for several seconds so that the microscopic needles break the skin and remain there when the patch is removed. The needles deliver a dose of contraceptive hormone that lasts for one month.
It was designed by researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology, and their experiment was published Monday in the journal Nature Biomedical Engineering.
The technology provides more options over a daily birth control pill and is less invasive than other long-lasting methods such as an intrauterine device, implant or once-monthly shot that all require a visit to the physician’s office.
“There is a lot of interest in providing more options for long-acting contraceptives,” Mark Prausnitz, the study’s lead researcher, said in a statement.
Mr. Prausnitz is a professor in the School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology. He is also a founder and shareholder in companies developing micro-needle products and a paid adviser to companies developing such technology.
“Our goal is for women to be able to self-administer long-acting contraceptives with the microneedle patch that would be applied to the skin for five seconds just once a month,” he said.
• Laura Kelly can be reached at lkelly@washingtontimes.com.
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