Modern contraceptive methods have a surprisingly short history and are dominated by the oral contraceptive pill, which came on to the market in 1960. New developments since the advent of the pill have been largely limited to tinkering with the contents and routes of administration of hormonal contraception. The knowledge that would allow a more exciting approach to new contraceptives does exist but the will to proceed is hampered by financial, political and moral factors, and perhaps ironically by the AIDS epidemic.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 12 print issues and online access
$209.00 per year
only $17.42 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
References
Bounds, W., Guillebaud, J. & Newman, G.B. Female condom (Femidom). A clinical study of its use-effectiveness and patient acceptability. Brit. J. Fam. Plan. 18, 36–41 (1992).
Bernstein, G.S., Israel, R., Seward, P. & Mishell, D.R. Jr. Clinical experience with the Cu 7 intrauterine device. Contraception 6, 99–107 (1972).
Van Kets, H., Wildermeersch, D. & Van der Pas H. The frameless GynaeFix intrauterine implant; a major improvement in efficacy, expulsion and tolerance. Adv. Contraception 11, 137–142 (1995).
Lee, N.C. Type of intrauterine device and the risk of pelvic inflammatory disease. Obstet. Gynecol. 62, 1–6 (1983).
Pincus, G. The control of fertility (Academic Press, New York, 1965).
Beral, V. et al. Mortality associated with oral contraceptive use: 25 year follow up of a cohort of 46,000 women from Royal College of General Practitioners' Oral Contraception Study. Brit. Med. J. 318, 96–100 (1999).
Edwards, J.E., Oldman, A., Smith, L., McQuay, H.J. & Moore, R.A. Women's knowledge of and attitudes to contraceptive effectiveness and adverse health events. Br. J. Fam. Plan. 26, 73–80 (2000).
Gestodene study group 322: The safety and contraceptive efficacy of a 24-day low dose oral contraceptive regimen containing gestodene 60 mg and ethinyloestradiol 15 mg. Eur. J. Contracep. Reprod. Health Care 4, (suppl) 9–15 (1999).
Killick, S.R., Fitzgerald, C. & Davis, A. Ovarian activity in women taking an oral contraceptive containing 20μg ethinyl estradiol and 150μg desogestrel: Effects of low estrogen doses during the hormone-free interval. Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol. 179, S18–S24 (1998).
Skegg, D.C.G. Third General Oral Contraceptives. Brit. Med. J., 321, 190–191 (2000).
Foidart, J.M., Wuttke, W., Bouw, G.M., Gerlinger, C. & Heithecker R. A comparative investigation of contraceptive reliability, cycle control and tolerance of two monophasic oral contraceptives cotaining either drospirenone or desogestrel. Eur. J. Contracept. Reprod. Health Care 5, 124–134 (2000).
World Health Organization Task Force on Long-acting systemic agents for fertility regulation. A multicentred phase III comparative study of two hormonal contraceptive preparations given once-a-month by intramuscular injection: contraceptive efficacy and side effects. Contraception 37, 1–20 (1998).
Croxatto, H.B. Progestin implants for female contraception. Contraception 65, 15–19 (2002).
Andersson, K. & Rybo, G. Levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine device in the treatment of menorrhagia. Brit. J. Obstet. Gynaecol. 97, 690–694 (1990).
Roumen, F.J.M.E., Apter, D., Mulders, T.M.T. & Dieben, T.O.M. Efficacy, tolerability and acceptability of a novel contraceptive vaginal ring releasing etonorgestrel and ethinyloestradiol. Hum. Reprod. 16, 469–475 (2001).
Audet, M.C. et al. for the ORTHO/EVRA/EVRA 004 study group. Evaluation of contraceptive efficacy and cycle control of a transdermal contraceptive patch vs an oral contraceptive. A randomized controlled trial. J. Am. Med. Assoc. 285, 2347–2351 (2001).
Loudon, N.B., Foxwell, M., Potts, D.M., Guild, A.L. & Short, R.V. Acceptability of an oral contraceptive that reduces frequency of menstruation: the tri-cycle pill regime. Brit. Med. J. ii 487–490 (1977).
Heller, C.G., Nelson, W.O. & Hill, I.B. Improvements in spermatogenesis following depression of the human testis with testosterone. Fertil. Steril. 1, 415–422 (1950).
Brady, B.M. & Anderson, R.A. Advances in Male Contraception. Expert Opin. Investig. Drugs 11, 333–44 (2002).
Potts, M. The myth of a male pill. Nature Med. 2, 398–399 (1996).
Martin, C.W. et al. Potential impact of hormonal male contraception: cross-cultural implications for development of novel preparations. Hum. Reprod., 15, 637–645 (2000).
Glasier, A.F. et al. Would women trust their partners to use a male pill? Hum. Reprod. 15, 646–649 (2000).
Feng, H., Sandlow, J.I., Sparks, A.E.T. & Sandra, A. Development of an immunocontraceptive vaccine. Current status. J. Reprod. Med. 44, 759–765 (1999).
Brown, A., Cheng, L., Lin, S. & Baird, D.T. Daily low-dose mifepristone has contraceptive potential by supressing ovulation and menstruation: A double-blind randomized control trial of 2 and 5 mg per day for 120 days. J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 87, 63–70 (2002).
Gemzell-Danielsson, K., Swahn, M.L., Svalander, P. & Bygdeman, M. Early Luteal phase treatment with mifepristone (RU 486) for fertility regulation. Hum. Reprod. 8, 870–873 (1993).
Hapangama, D.K., Glasier, A.F., Brown, A. & Baird, D.T. Feasibility of administering mifepristone as a once a month contraceptive pill. Hum. Reprod. 16, 1145–1150 (2001).
Task Force on Postovulatory Methods of Fertility Regulation. Comparison of three single doses of mifepristone as emergency contraception: a randomised trial. Lancet 353, 697–702 (1999).
World Population Data Sheet. Population Reference Bureau, Washington DC (2001).
Contraceptive technology and the state of science: new horizons. Contraceptive research and development. (eds Harrison, P.F. & Rosenfield, A., National Academic Press, Washington DC, 1996).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Glasier, A. Contraception – past and future. Nat Med 8 (Suppl 10), S3–S6 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1038/nm-fertilityS3
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nm-fertilityS3