Sunday, November 15, 2009

Contraceptive Computers: iBirthControl?


"Fertility Computers." Epigee. 2009.

A contraceptive computer may be the newest innovation in non-hormonal contraception. Hormonal pills are currently being studied to establish determine if a relationship exists between hormonal contraceptive therapy and an increased risk of breast or ovarian cancer. The elevated risk from birth control pills may be especially prevalent in women with genetic predisposition to cancer on the BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene. To avoid this potential danger, women may be able to use a small, personal, contraceptive fertility computer. Approved for uses in Europe and Canada, these computers very clearly indicate which days a woman is fertile, using a red light, and which days she is not, using a green light. The personal devices determine fertility every morning by storing daily basal temperature readings and detecting the slight temperature increase associated with ovulation. Some models may ask for a urine test to analyze the concentration of hormones if the body temperature test is inconclusive. Two such models are the LadyComp, BioSelf, and Persona, which each boast a failure rate of approximately 5 percent in users who use the monitors properly.

Clinical trials are now under way by the FDA to approve fertility computers as a means of contraception, but these devices are not currently for sale in the United States. Using these devices would avoid the introduction of chemicals and hormones into the body and serve as a much more natural means of contraception. Thus, there are no side effects or disruptions of the body’s natural homeostasis. These devices do, however, have several disadvantages. The personalized computers are rather expensive, costing upwards of $400, and may require the replenishing of testing materials such a urine sticks. Furthermore, using the computer as a means of contraception is only recommended for women whose cycles are between 23 and 35 days, and further research is still needed to determine the accuracy for women with both regular and irregular cycles. Maybe Apple should start on a new production project. Pretty soon, there might be an app for that!

Additional sources and photo: http://www.contracept.org/computers.php

1 comment: