Population Council | Biomedicine | Product Research and Development: Female Contraceptives

BIOMEDICINE
Product Research and Development:
Female Contraceptives

Note: This page offers a general overview of the Population Council's work on female contraceptives. For more detailed information, see the links below.

Many of the new methods of female contraceptives under development at the Population Council employ Nestorone^®, a versatile synthetic progestin similar to the natural hormone progesterone.

Nestorone is not active when administered orally, but it can be used in rings, patches, gels, and implants, either combined with estrogen or used alone, for contraception or hormone therapy. It is particularly appropriate for use by breastfeeding mothers.

Nestorone (16-methylene-17a-acetoxy-19-nor-progesterone) is the registered trademark held by the Population Council for this synthetic progestin.

Transdermal delivery systems
Population Council scientists are exploring ways to deliver hormones transdermally, or through the skin, via a gel or patch that can be applied on a woman's abdomen, with different formulations for contraception or hormone therapy. A gel or patch would have several advantages over other contraceptive methods: the product would be under the user's control and would be convenient to apply or remove; its effects would be easy to reverse as well. Because of Nestorone's ability to penetrate the skin with relative ease, and because of its high potency, it is an ideal drug for use in a transdermal formulation. Studies have shown that sufficient amounts of Nestorone can be delivered through the skin to inhibit ovulation.

Vaginal rings
The vaginal ring is a pliable drug-delivery system that can be inserted into the vagina, where it slowly releases hormones that are absorbed into the bloodstream. About 2¼" in diameter and the size of the outer rim of a diaphragm, the contraceptive ring is an easy-to-use, reversible method that may have advantages over other methods.

Unlike oral contraceptives, the ring does not require daily attention, and, unlike the IUD, the ring can be inserted and removed by the woman after she has been instructed in its use by a health care provider. In addition, because the ring releases hormone(s) at a constant rate, the daily dose required is lower than that contained in oral contraceptives, which may result in decreased long- and short-term side effects.

Variations of the ring—with several hormonal combinations—are being developed for different uses. New molecules are also being tested for use in the vaginal ring.

Implants
Building on the experience gained from the development of Norplant^® and Jadelle, the Population Council conducted studies on a single-rod implant containing Nestorone for lactating women that could protect against pregnancy for two years by inhibiting ovulation. Nestorone may also be an effective treatment for endometriosis. The attractiveness of a Nestorone implant is that the steroid does not affect serum lipoprotein patterns, carbohydrate metabolism, or liver proteins.

Female contraceptive development research projects at the Population Council have included:

Transdermal Delivery Systems for Women

Vaginal Rings

Other