The World Health Organization has issued new guidance aimed at expanding contraceptive choices, giving women and couples more options for preventing pregnancy while supporting the development of new contraceptive methods for men.
The new guidance covers several existing contraceptive practices and methods, including longer use of combined oral contraceptive pills, extended use of contraceptive implants and an additional emergency contraception option. WHO said the recommendations are intended to help countries broaden access to contraceptive methods supported by available evidence and enable people to make informed choices based on their individual needs.
Under the new recommendations, combined oral contraceptive pills can be used for extended periods of up to six months or continuously for up to one year as alternatives to conventional cyclical use. WHO also supports the use of etonogestrel-releasing contraceptive implants for up to five years, potentially reducing the frequency of replacement procedures and clinic visits.
The organisation has also recommended mifepristone as an additional emergency contraception option. According to WHO, doses ranging from 10 to 50 milligrams are likely to be as safe and effective as other emergency contraceptive methods when taken as soon as possible and within five days after unprotected sex.
WHO said the new guidance is intended to strengthen informed choice rather than promote a single contraceptive method. It emphasised that contraceptive needs differ among individuals and that decisions should take account of factors including convenience, accessibility, reliability and personal circumstances.
The guidance also identifies methods for which the available evidence is not yet sufficient. WHO called for more research into ormeloxifene before it is included in national family-planning programmes, citing limited evidence on safety. The organisation also recommended against adding quinestrol-containing contraceptive pills to national programmes because of limited evidence and reports of serious adverse events.
Alongside the new guidance for women, WHO is working to expand contraceptive options available to men. The organisation has developed its first Target Product Profiles for novel male contraceptive methods, setting out characteristics that future products should meet in areas such as safety, effectiveness, reversibility, acceptability and affordability.
At present, men's contraceptive choices remain largely limited to condoms, withdrawal and vasectomy. WHO said research is underway on both hormonal and non-hormonal methods, with several candidates in advanced clinical trials. The organisation said new reversible male contraceptives could potentially reach the market within the next five to 10 years, although that timeline depends on successful development, clinical testing and regulatory processes.
WHO also cited research showing interest in expanding male participation in contraception. More than 75 per cent of couples surveyed said they would be willing to use a new male contraceptive, while more than 85 per cent of women surveyed said they would trust their male partners to take responsibility for contraception. The study covered men and female partners in four low- and middle-income countries.
The organisation said its new guidance and male contraceptive development framework are intended to support countries, researchers, funders and product developers in expanding family-planning options while maintaining evidence-based standards for safety and effectiveness.
The changes do not mean that every method discussed by WHO is immediately available in every country. National health authorities will determine whether and how recommended methods are incorporated into national contraceptive programmes and clinical guidelines.
Comments
Post a Comment