New Contraceptive Developments
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Population Council Knowledge Commons Momentum Population Council Newsletters 2008 New contraceptive developments Population Council Follow this and additional works at: https://knowledgecommons.popcouncil.org/ series_newsletters_momentum How does access to this work benefit ou?y Let us know! Recommended Citation "New contraceptive developments," Momentum newsletter. New York: Population Council, 2008. This Newsletter is brought to you for free and open access by the Population Council. NEWS FROM THE POPULATION COUNCIL MomentumDECEMBER 2008 New contraceptive developments A health worker counsels a Kenyan woman on contraceptive options after the birth of her first child. IN THIS ISSUE: ONE RING FOR ONE YEAR OF CONTRACEPTION A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO CONTRACEPTION CONTRACEPTIVE CHOICES FOR DIVERSE POPULATIONS CREATING MORE CONTRACEPTIVE OPTIONS FOR MEN SEEKING A WINNING COMBINATION PROFILE: A CONVERSATION WITH DR. RENSHAN GE PROFILE: DONOR KATY STOKES PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE NOT ONLY CAN UNINTENDED pregnancy and birth be lethal to mother and child, they often trap women in a cycle of poverty in which they are unable to educate or support themselves and to provide for a baby. Modern contraceptives are available in most countries, but with only a few options the rate of unplanned pregnancy remains stubbornly high. This unmet need for contraception puts women’s lives at risk and keeps women and children in a state of poverty. At the Council, clinical research is driven by the principle that no one method of contraception will fit everyone’s needs. An IUD might be ideal for a mother of three living in Mexico City, while a young woman in rural Kenya, without reliable access to a medical facility, may require a different method. We draw on biomedical and social science research to create new contraceptives that meet different CONSIDER THESE FIGURES: women’s needs while maintaining the high standards for safety and effectiveness for which Council products are known. Once we’ve Number of women in developing Percentage of American women who developed a safe and reliable product, we work hard to see that it’s countries using no method or only switched contraceptive methods in less traditional methods of contraception: than a year, suggesting dissatisfaction: 246 made available in developing countries at an affordable price. 201 million1 This issue of Momentum highlights our most recent solutions to Percentage of women surveyed in meeting the unmet need for contraception. Our pioneering work on Estimated annual cost of providing South Africa who thought a male con- male contraception (see page 8) challenges the idea that women are contraceptive services to those traceptive pill was a good idea: 907 solely responsible for controlling fertility. Our new vaginal ring (see women: $3.9 billion2 page 2) will, we hope, make ring technology a viable option for Percentage of contraceptive research women in developing countries. The improvements we are making to Percentage of married women aged 15 budgets allocated to male methods: 88 contraceptive distribution in resource-poor areas (see page 4) help to to 49 in sub-Saharan Africa not using ensure that the right products reach the people who need them. any contraceptive method: 773 Number of women globally who have Contraceptives save lives and give people a chance to provide for used long-term, reversible contracep- themselves, their families, and their futures. Your contributions make Estimated annual number of women tives developed by the Population this empowerment possible. Please support us in developing contra- worldwide who have an abortion: Council: more than 100 million9 46 million4 ceptive solutions for the people who need them most. Number of American women who have Number of unintended pregnancies received free Mirena IUSs as a result Sincerely, globally between Jan. 1995 and Dec. of the Population Council’s agreement 2000: 338 million5 with the manufacturer: over 50,00010 Peter J. Donaldson Sources found on page 13. COVER PHOTO: © 1994 JOHN RIBER, COURTESY OF PHOTOSHARE THIS PAGE: POPULATION COUNCIL 1 One ring for one year of contraception NEW LOW-COST, EASY-TO-USE CONTRACEPTIVE METHODS are critical to meeting the family planning needs of the world’s most vulnerable women. Current methods require regular access to either a pharmacy or health care provider. The Council has developed a new contraceptive vaginal ring that may be especially attractive to women who have limited access to health facilities. COUNCIL RESEARCHERS TERESA SALLENT AND BRUCE VARIANO; PHOTO: KAREN TWEEDY-HOLMES/POPULATION COUNCIL THE PROBLEM Women living regular access to a pharmacy or ing distribution costs. As an added ring will end in mid-2009. Prelimi- in rural or resource-poor areas medical provider. benefit, many women may find the nary results indicate that the ring often cannot obtain modern meth- ring especially easy to use since, is as safe as other contraceptives on ods of birth control. Many rural THE PROGRESS The Council unlike oral contraceptives, no daily the market, effective, easy to use, communities lack well-stocked has developed a new contraceptive routine is required. Women leave and that most participants prefer pharmacies where women can vaginal ring that is particularly the ring in for three weeks, take it the ring to their current method of dependably get pills or patches. suited to women in resource-poor out for one week of menstruation, birth control. Longer-term methods such as an settings and could also be ideal for and then reinsert the ring for three IUD or implant can be too difficult many women in more developed weeks. Unlike the one-month vagi- THE SOLUTION Women in to obtain, since these options areas. A woman can insert and nal ring currently on the market in resource-poor settings are especial- require a trained medical worker remove the ring without assistance the US, the Council ring does not ly vulnerable to the consequences to provide or remove the device. from a health care provider, and the need to be refrigerated before use, of unwanted pregnancy. The Coun- These women need a new meth- same ring can be used for a full making the ring particularly suited cil’s contraceptive vaginal ring will od of contraception that they con- year, eliminating the need for regu- for distribution in the developing be an important new option for trol and that does not depend on lar access to a pharmacy and reduc- world. Clinical trials of the new these women. 2 3 A comprehensive approach to contrac eption COMMUNITY HEALTH CARE WORKERS OFTEN DISTRIBUTE contraceptives to women in rural areas. To be most effective, however, the workers must be trained to provide accurate information and follow-up. The Council developed a successful training program demonstrating that community health workers can, in many settings, deliver quality services better than clinics and at a lower cost. PHOTO: POPULATION COUNCIL THE PROBLEM Access to THE PROGRESS The Council, reproductive health specialists. reach workers or starting a new quality medical care, or medicine together with governments and After completing the Council’s program at a clinic. In addition, of any kind, is especially difficult in partner organizations, developed a training program, community the Council has proven that com- remote rural areas of the develop- community health worker training health workers provided excellent munity-based contraceptive distri- ing world, where reaching the program to address the need for quality of care, including informing bution increases the acceptability nearest health center or pharmacy accurate information and confiden- clients about available contracep- of family planning, especially in may mean walking for many hours. tial access to contraceptive services. tive choices, providing current and traditional societies. Community health workers may In Senegal, Council research illus- accurate information on benefits represent a low-cost alternative trated how trained community and drawbacks, and offering clients THE SOLUTION Training for delivering basic health services, health workers could increase a chance to change methods if nec- community health care workers including contraceptives. In order access to family planning services essary. Moreover, contraceptive to provide family planning services to be most effective, however, more effectively than investing in distribution using community can expand contraceptive access these workers need appropriate clinic-based family planning pro- health workers is less expensive to populations living in remote training. grams or training a new cadre of than hiring and training new out- rural areas at relatively low cost. 4 5 Contraceptive choices for diverse populations THE PROBLEM A woman THE PROBLEM A woman THE PROBLEM A new THE PROBLEM A young in India just had twins and does in Ghana has been anemic mother in rural Chile knows couple in Egypt want to wait not want more children for sev- most of her life, causing her to she can’t continue taking her a year or two before having eral years. She is used to taking suffer particularly during men- usual birth control pills while their first child. Neither part- birth control pills but often struation. Her doctor has rec- she is breastfeeding. She has ner feels comfortable with the has to visit several pharmacies ommended a hysterectomy to heard that breastfeeding it- idea of taking pills or having a each month to find one with prevent the loss of blood dur- self offers some contraceptive device implanted or inserted.