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pubmed:otherAbstract |
PIP: The World Health Organization (WHO) has a research unit which has been concentrating on contraceptive technology which is effective and, at the same time, easily reversible. The unit has worked with intravaginal and intracervical placement of contraception, either through steroidal compounds or through spermicides. Both of these contraceptives work locally, avoiding systemic side effects. Several of the devices which have been developed are described and diagrammed. Various clinical tests have been conducted using various of these devices with differing levels of medication. The physicochemical characteristics and the pharmacokinetic effects observed in the tests are explained and tabulated. The article deals with both spermicidal-loaded and progestin-releasing devices. The tests have identified a number of vaginal devices capable of achieving constant release rates of progestogenic steroids for 90 or more continuous days. Sperm migration was impeded without systemic side effects. The contraceptive effectiveness of these devices is still under study. Research and testing in this area of contraceptive work is ongoing.
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