New Ideas on Birth Control
Dual Function Contraception
The Land of Oz has come up with some interesting theories regarding the direction of modern methods for contraception. The latest research about contraception comes out of Australia and concentrates on two tracks: contraceptives that have dual functions and contraception that does not employ the use of hormones. In late August of 2008, Laureate Professor John Aitken from the University of Newcastle and Dr. Eva Dimitriadis from Prince Henry’s Institute of Medical Research spoke at an important conference for scientific research that took place in Melbourne, Australia. The annual conference is for members of the Society for Reproductive Biology or SRB.
Professor Aitken is prominent in the world of reproductive biology and addressed the conference about the need for the development of inventive, efficient, and safe contraceptive aids that can prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) at the same time. The renowned Professor Aitkens is working at present to develop a contraceptive agent that paralyzes sperm without killing them. This new contraceptive mechanism also has the ability to work against active microbes such as are found in sexually transmitted diseases like Chlamydia.
Non-hormonal Female Contraception
Dr. Eva Dimitriadis, who is the Senior Research Officer at her institution (PHI) presented the details of her newest research which revolves around the need to find contraceptives for women that don’t involve the use of hormones. Dr. Dimitriadis is of the firm belief that women need more choices for female contraceptive methods as well as contraceptives that don’t require a woman to take strong hormones on a daily basis. To this end, Dimitriadis and her colleagues at the Uterine Biology Group at PHI have managed to identify many molecules that serve as pregnancy-blockers, and can preserve the status quo of the uterus so that it evades pregnancy. Studies on these molecules have proven that the theory is workable in mice, but further research and development is needed in order to develop this alternative and novel form of contraception.
Researchers believe that the ultimate manipulation of these molecules as a form of birth control may end up being more user-friendly than present methods since its use is limited to the time period of the uterus’ receptivity to pregnancy. This receptivity is limited to only a few days every month. That means that this form of birth control would only need to be administered during this brief, key period in a woman’s cycle rather than on the daily basis necessary for drugs such as the Pill.
