Jewelry as a contraception? Innovative contraceptive patch tested

Prevention through the Wearing of jewelry?

Contraceptives like the pill are only effective if we also remember to take. Researchers have now developed a new type of contraceptive patch which can be attached to jewelry. The inclusion of the Prevention of band-AIDS and jewelry could make the prevention easier, especially for women who regularly wear jewelry, so the hope of the research team.

In a recent study by the Georgia Institute of Technology researchers have made the ends of the so-called contraceptive patch, which is in the jewelry placed and worn discreetly. The results of the study were published in the English journal “Journal of Controlled Release”.

Benefits through other options for the prevention

Contraceptive patches are already since a couple of decades on the market, but for it to work properly, it must normally be for a successful application of a fairly strict Routine followed. Contraceptive patch, which can be used with jewelry worn, could make in the near future, prevention is much easier and more convenient. The more prevention options are available, the individual with the needs of the User can be and user met, explain the study authors. Since the Wearing of jewelry belong for the everyday life of most women, could facilitate this technique, adherence to medication significantly. This could make it easier for women to avoid unwanted pregnancies. The patches can be used with various types of jewelry, such as watches, rings and necklaces.

How do the patches work for jewelry?

The contraceptive Levonorgestrel is inserted in a small patch, which has on one side an adhesive for Attachment to jewelry, and a skin adhesive on the other side. This patch is then attached to the part of a piece of jewelry, which comes into contact with the skin. There, it can make the hormones to over the hours slowly into the blood stream. The patches themselves are so designed that they are universal and practically any piece of jewelry work. The Team pointed out, however, that the method is best suited for jewelry pieces like earrings and watches, which are pressed throughout the day against the skin.

Contraceptive patch worked well in animal trials

To test the contraceptive jewelry, glued to the researchers patch from the patch Material to the back of the earrings and put them in the ears of pigs. After it was found that the drug was successfully transferred to the skin of the pigs, experimenting the Team with hairless rats. The animals wore the patch for a period of 16 hours, then the patches were removed for eight hours, which should simulate that to women store on the night of your jewelry. The researchers found that the Levonorgestrel remained during this time, significantly higher than the contraceptive level. Even during the eight-hour sections, in which the patches were removed, decreased these values significantly, but remained high enough for it to work.

Further research is needed

The next step for the Team is to test the System on people. If women want to use the patch actually is or not is another question, but additional options for prevention are always a good thing. Not only the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of prevention jewelry needs to be taken into account, but also social and personal factors of women around the world play an important role. It must be ensured that this concept of conception will be adopted for the prevention of in fact, women and used. (as)