ATLANTA — Scientists from the Georgia Institute of Technology have developed a novel form of birth control that's literally as simple as putting on an earring.<br /><br />A report published in the Journal of Controlled Release describes a technique that administers contraceptive hormones transdermally, via patches that can be mounted on earrings, necklaces, rings, or wristwatches.<br /><br />Contraceptive patches are already available, but the team believe incorporating them into jewelry could allow for a more attractive and discreet method of drug delivery.<br /><br />According to a press release from the Georgia Institute of Technology, researchers tested an earring patch that consisted of three layers.<br /><br />One layer is impermeable and contains an adhesive to hold it onto a piece of jewelry. The middle layer contains the contraceptive hormone in solid form, while the outer layer is a skin adhesive that allows the hormone to be transferred.<br /><br />Once it is in the skin, the contraceptive drug moves into the bloodstream and can then circulate through the body.<br /><br />The earring patches were tested on pigs' ears and the skin of hairless rats by being applied for sixteen hours and removed for 8.<br /><br />While drug levels dropped when the earrings were off, the patches were found to produce the necessary amounts of the hormone in the blood.<br /><br />The technology has yet to be tested on humans, but if ultimately used in the future, the patches would have be changed periodically, most likely on a weekly basis.
