Impact

People everywhere have the right to access safe, effective contraception that fits their lifestyle, needs and preferences.

Despite significant improvements in availability of modern methods, the greatest gaps remain in LMICs, where an estimated 218 million women of reproductive age still have an unmet need for modern contraception, contributing to 111 million unintended pregnancies each year. Fully meeting this need would avert 76 million unintended pregnancies, 46 million induced abortions – approximately half of which are unsafe – and 70,000 maternal deaths annually.

R&D needs

Meeting global contraceptive needs requires the provision of a diverse range of options. Although several effective products are available, global unmet need for modern contraception persists, particularly in LMICs. This unmet need is in major part due to a lack of contraceptives that meet the spectrum of needs of individual users. Different product profiles are required, including less- or non-hormonal products, male contraceptives and user-controlled options, allowing for greater usability and user autonomy. There is also a particular unmet need for novel products that overcome additional barriers faced by users in low-resource settings and in diverse cultural contexts. This includes products that offer LMIC-appropriate alternatives to cold-chain transport and storage or administration by skilled health professionals, and those that acknowledge the cultural significance of menstruation via options that are non-hormonal or do not disturb usual bleeding patterns.

Pipeline spotlights

FHI 360’s levonorgestrel, a six-month contraceptive, is approaching Phase 1 trials. Its microsphere technology allows users to self-inject, reducing the need for regular medical consultations. Population Council and the US NIH are developing the male contraceptive NES/T gel, currently in Phase 2b trials. It uses a combination of Nestorone and testosterone to reversibly suppress spermatogenesis via daily topical application.