New contraceptive: hormone-free contraception via gel capsule

A new contraceptive is in the starting blocks: The gel capsule from the company OUI not only guarantees contraception without hormones, it is also supposed to impress with its ease of use. However, it will be several years before it is launched on the market.

THE contraceptive of the future? Gel capsule could revolutionize the contraceptive market

Whether hormonal contraceptives such as the birth control pill, hormone injections or hormonal IUDs, or hormone-free alternatives such as copper IUDs, diaphragms or condoms – they all have disadvantages. One group is harmful to the body or psyche, the other is painful to insert or simply annoying during sex. With a revolutionary new contraceptive, all these problems could soon be history.

The startup company OUI, with its founders Frederik Petursson Madsen, Dr. Thomas Crouzier and Dr. Lyudmila Katchan, has been developing a gel capsule for about two years that women can easily insert into the vagina before sex to protect themselves against conception. The membrane dissolves completely within a minute, releasing a gel.

This then combines at the molecular level with the cervical mucus, a secretion produced by the glands of the cervix. Its barrier properties are strengthened by this process. Sperm can now no longer penetrate the cervix, as they are literally “blocked”. Frederik Petursson Madsen speaks of a “natural barrier” instead of artificial protection.

Neither the user nor her sex partner will notice the increased cervical mucus during intercourse. Therefore, the contraceptive method should not be perceived as a nuisance.

Market launch only in a few years

Anyone who had hoped to be able to order the gel capsule today will unfortunately be disappointed. According to OUI’s founders, it will be another four to five years before the product is launched on the market.

And there is a good reason for this: the new contraceptive will first be tested in extensive studies. The optimistic goal is to achieve an efficacy of around 99 percent. This is roughly equivalent to the safety of the contraceptive pill. Only if the gel capsule stands up to the trials will it be made available to the public as planned within the specified timeframe. Testing is expected to begin in one to two years.

Let’s hope that everything goes smoothly and that the gel capsule can actually celebrate its market launch in a few years. Because there is no question that people are longing for a safe contraceptive that also has no side effects and does not interfere with sex. And that is precisely what current methods offer only inadequately. A gap that OUI’s gel capsule could close.