ALTHOUGH INVESTMENT WITHIN THE WOMEN ’ S HEALTHTECH SECTOR HAS BEEN SLOW , THE LAST FEW YEARS HAVE WITNESSED CONSIDERABLE GROWTH .
H E A L T H I N S I G H T S be addressed with a mucus engineering approach . These include infertility , vaginal infections and sexually transmitted diseases .
On-demand contraceptive gel – Evofem Biosciences
Evofem Biosciences is a biotechnology company providing over-the-counter products in the feminine health and hygiene space . They have a particular focus on sexually transmitted infections and contraception .
Dr Robert Sackin
ALTHOUGH INVESTMENT WITHIN THE WOMEN ’ S HEALTHTECH SECTOR HAS BEEN SLOW , THE LAST FEW YEARS HAVE WITNESSED CONSIDERABLE GROWTH .
Since one of the roles of cervical mucus is to prevent infection , it is impenetrable to foreign cells , including sperm cells , throughout the month . However , around ovulation , hormonal changes trigger a loosening of the mucus , allowing sperm to pass through the cervix and fertilise an egg .
Cirqle have discovered small biopolymers that can alter the microstructure of cervical mucus to make it temporarily impenetrable to sperm , preventing fertilisation . These mucoadhesive polymers were shown to be a 100 % effective barrier in efficacy trials in large animals . This was the first demonstration of a novel mechanism of action in female contraception in 60 years .
Cirqle Biomedical have three PCT applications with filings in major jurisdictions worldwide .
Beyond contraception , Cirqle believe that many unmet needs in women ’ s health could
Evofem Biosciences ’ main contraceptive product , Phexxi , is a gel which works by maintaining an acidic vaginal pH to decrease sperm motility and prevent pregnancy . It is an on-demand method of contraception , so can be used only when needed .
Vaginal pH levels normally vary between 3.5 and 4.5 . The entry of sperm raises the pH , allowing sperm to travel to the uterus .
Application of a vaginal pH modulator such as Phexxi , whose active ingredients are lactic acid , citric acid and potassium bitartrate , keeps vaginal pH within the range of 3.5 and 4.5 , hindering sperm motility and reducing the chance of fertilisation .
Evofem Biosciences have several granted patents and pending patent applications about acid-buffering contraceptive compositions , their manufacture and an application device . They also have patents and pending patent applications about antimicrobial compositions for the prevention and treatment of bacterial vaginosis ( BV ) and sexually transmitted infections such as HPV .
Wearable fertility tracker – Natural Cycles and Oura
The Natural Cycles app was the first directto-consumer birth control app to be approved by the FDA in 2018 . It makes use of the subtle increases in body temperature occurring around ovulation to calculate the days each month where a woman might be fertile .
Previously , the app relied on its users manually measuring and recording their body temperature every day . Of course , it also relied on the user abstaining from sex or using protection on potential ovulation days .
18 www . intelligenthealth . tech