Contraception is changing. Recently there’s been a surge of interest in the contraceptives market, resulting in more investment and research aiming to tackle the growing list of unmet needs – and putting women’s health centre stage. If things go in the right direction, we can expect to see a whole new wave of innovative birth control options available for women soon – many of which have been created by women who know exactly what they want from their contraception.
Let’s look at the disruptors who are shaking up the contraceptive industry!
New contraception #1 – The contoured Caya
Revamping the age, old diaphragm for a comfortable fit
A seemingly old-fashioned, non-hormonal option, the diaphragm has been around for decades. Fans of the American sitcom ‘Friends’ may have noticed its mention by Monica as her go-to contraceptive. However, the device has a reputation for being ‘outdated’ and messy, whilst requiring planning ahead of time.
Caya aims to rewrite the narrative by offering a combination of a flexible, silicon moulded diaphragm to cover the cervix opening, preventing sperm from entering, and a gel that acts as an additional physical barrier and spermicide. By following an extensive user-informed design process, Caya’s ergonomic, the one-size-fits-all shape should be comfortable for most women. The insertion and removal processes also aim to be a seamless experience, much like beloved menstrual cups and discs.
The drawback? Caya is not available on an NHS prescription (yet) and whilst you can purchase it separately through their site, you will still need a prescription to confirm Caya is suitable for you. You also need to insert it before sex and leave it on for 6 hours after, so planning is still required!
New contraception #2 – Phexxi
An on-demand, non-hormonal, vaginal gel contraceptive
Similar to some spermicides, the ingredients in the Phexxi gel create an acidic, inhospitable environment to reduce sperm mobility. However, unlike spermicides, its adhesive nature enables the gel to stick to the vaginal wall, creating a thick layer that remains in place. It comes with an applicator, for mess-free, in-the-moment application.
Like condoms, it only works once, so a new dose needs to be administered every time you have penetrative sex. It works immediately once administered but is only effective for up to an hour. Timing, as well as having Phexxi on hand, is important and worth bearing in mind.
Unsurprisingly, Phexxi comes with potential side effects, ranging from vaginal burning to yeast infections. Furthermore, it may not be suitable for those who have a history of urinary tract problems. However, as Phexxi is only available as a prescription (not on the NHS yet), your doctor can help you assess if this is a good option.
New contraception #3 – Ballerine
The smaller, flexible, spherical copper IUD
Sticking to the theme of non-hormonal contraceptives, the Ballerine (or IUB) is here to shake up the copper IUD market. It uses nitinol, a smart, shape-changing material to ‘morph’ into its final 3D ball shape once in the uterus. Copper balls are attached to the structure and release copper ions, helping to provide over 99% efficacy for up to 5 years. The combination of the device’s round, uterus-cavity shape, flexibility, and the smaller size means fewer pain points upon insertion and removal of the device, relative to current IUDs.
The Ballerine is available mostly through private insurance in over 30 countries, including one clinician in London.
New contraception #4 – Pexxi
Personalised, hormonal pills to make you feel your best
This one is slightly different in that it’s not an actual contraceptive but an online service. Pexxi works to understand your body so it can suggest, and help you pick, and home-delivery the best contraceptive pill from the myriad on the market.
The company is at its early stages and will be launching very soon. However, you can sign up to get updates, as well as early access.
What’s next?
The future seems to be customised contraceptives, both in their physical designs as well as personalised dosages for your specific body type and health goals. Subscription and digital prescription providing services are also on the rise, so we can expect more ease and on-demand access to contraception. Many methods may also aim to target other issues, such as excessive bleeding, or provide protection against STIs, beyond just condoms. New advances in 3D printing, material science, biomedical research, and even behavioural psychology are key to help broaden current birth-control offerings.
Male birth control is also a hot topic. Condoms and vasectomy are the current options, but research is being conducted into hormonal and non-hormonal methods. These are at their very early stages so we may need to wait a while longer to see anything on the market.
Whilst many new birth-control options are currently still undergoing trials, waiting for further investment or aren’t geographically or economically accessible to all yet, the contraceptives industry is changing for the better, and we’re excited to see what’s on the horizon!
