Admittedly, the timing of writing this particular blog post the day after Mother’s Day is a bit ironic. But I found the subject of contraceptive jewelry quite intriguing. Could wearing a specialized watch, earrings, bracelet, necklace or ring help prevent an unintended pregnancy? One day soon woman may be donning jewelry as a form of birth control. Or at least that is the hope of a group of researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology.
Credit: Mark Prausnitz, Georgia Tech
Contraceptive patches are already available as a form of birth control, however not attached to and worn as jewelry. Scientists at the Georgia Institute of Technology have been experimenting with special patches containing contraceptive hormones that are attached to the backs of jewelry. The idea is that hormones would be absorbed through the skin and subsequently into the bloodstream.
The patches are comprised of three layers. An outer adhesive layer holds the patch on the piece of jewelry. A middle layer holds the contraceptive drug and an outer layer skin adhesive helps to transfer the drug to be absorbed into the skin and ultimately into the bloodstream.
To date contraceptive jewelry has not yet been tested on humans. The product has only been tested on pig’s ears and on hairless rats. Researchers applied the patches for 16 hours then removed them for 8. Thought the hormones levels dropped upon removal of the patch, researchers claimed that the patches still produced the necessary amounts of hormones into the bloodstream to remain effective.
Experts believe the potential for contraceptive jewelry is huge. Having more options in family planning is perhaps the biggest benefit. Beyond having several choices there are two other major benefits. Discretion and compliance. Discretion is valuable in cultures or where moralities differ. Contraception is most often times a private decision. Contraceptive jewelry can be worn without anyone knowing the reason for your choosing to wear a certain piece of jewelry.
Credit: Mark Prausnitz, Georgia Tech
Compliance comes into play where women might be more apt to wear jewelry than to remember to take a pill. The key to compliance is having a good contraceptive method that women want to and will use. Because most women wear some type of jewelry having a contraceptive in jewelry it becomes part of a woman’s daily routine. This technique could help to facilitate compliance with a drug regime.
Researchers are hoping not only could this new way of administering drugs be used for birth control but also for other medications. And, not only for women but men too! Whether you think this is a great idea or not it still faces two major hurdles. Will the patches even work on humans and will women and men actually want to use them?
It will take years of more testing before we know whether contraceptive or medication jewelry would actually work on humans and whether it would be an acceptable method of administering drugs. What do you think? Would you use it?
ENJOY!!
cheryl