H E A L T H I N S I G H T S
The introduction of the contraceptive pill in 1960 gave women economic freedom , sexual liberation and unprecedented autonomy over their bodies . However , over 60 years after this milestone and given the adverse side effects of hormonal contraception , there is a considerable way to go to improve methods of contraception .
The pitfalls of the pill are well documented ; use of hormonal contraceptives increases a woman ’ s rate of taking antidepressants by 22 – 25 % ( 80 – 120 % for teenagers ), increases female suicide rates by 308 % and increases the risk of developing breast cancer by 9 % to 38 % depending on length of use .
A heightened awareness of these risks , coupled with numerous other side effects ( migraines , vaginal infections and mood swings to name but a few ) is driving women away from hormonal contraceptives . Worryingly , we lack similarly effective , convenient and non-invasive alternatives .
The above analysis reveals an exciting opportunity for innovators to provide non-hormonal contraceptive technologies and disrupt the contraceptive market . Last year , the UNFPA reported that , ‘ nearly half of all pregnancies , totalling 121 million each year worldwide , are unintended ’. There is clearly a captive audience and a demand for technologies that provide efficacy comparable to hormonal contraceptives without the hormone-related side effects .
In this article , Patent Attorney , Dr Robert Sackin and Assistant , Roberta Sher , at intellectual property law firm Reddie & Grose , provide a brief overview of current innovations in noninvasive and non-hormonal , wearable and male contraceptives .
Although investment within the women ’ s HealthTech sector has been slow , the last few years have witnessed considerable growth . As a result of this , the significant opportunities for innovation mentioned above have led to a development boom within contraceptive technology . In such a competitive market driven principally by technological innovation , filing patent applications is of paramount importance to protect inventions from being commercially exploited . This is particularly the case for startups , where one idea or product often forms the core of the business . Having a granted patent , especially in major markets such as Europe and the US , can also be attractive to potential investors .
Cervical mucus engineering – Cirqle Biomedical
Cirqle Biomedical is a Danish startup pioneering cervical mucus engineering as an alternative to hormonal birth control .
INNOVATION IN CONTRACEPTION –
TIME TO BIRTH SOME NEW IDEAS ?
www . intelligenthealth . tech 17