By 2018 women could have a new method for birth control —an implantable microchip that can be switched on and off. Backed by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the new device is very small—just 20 mm by 20 mm by 7mm—and contains a reservoir of hormones that is released every day.
Implanted just under the skin, the chip is designed to last for 16 years. When a woman wanted to conceive, she’d be able to turn the hormone off, using a small remote control. Other contraceptive implants on the market require a trip to the doctor to deactivate them.
The remote control is designed to give women more control over their reproductive choices, but it does raise security concerns. Could hacking a contraceptive implant be the future version of using a safety pin to puncture a condom? The microchip’s manufacturers say that it’s not likely.
The company developing the chip, MicroCHIPS, has already tested a similar device to treat osteoporosis. Pre-clinical trails of the contraceptive implant are expected to start next year, and the device could go on sale as soon as 2018.
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