Ian Bolland spoke to Dr Elina Berglund, CEO and co-founder of Natural Cycles, to discuss the availability of non-hormonal contraception during COVID-19 lockdown, and the role that medtech can play in making it more widely available.
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IB: What technology is out there to help with non-hormonal contraception?
EB: There are not many regulated non-hormonal contraception options on the market but some of the most popular are the male condom, copper IUD, and Natural Cycles. The most common option is the male condom which has become more durable over time through technology used to develop the materials.
In terms of digital technology, Natural Cycles is the first and only digital birth control cleared by regulatory authorities across the U.S. and Europe. Since it comes in the form of an app, many people associate Natural Cycles with period trackers – which have increased in popularity over the past few years – but no period tracker on the market is cleared as a medical device to be used as a contraception.
IB: Do you think this is a space where we’re likely to see more innovation going forward?
EB: Yes, there will be more innovation around non-hormonal contraception because there is an unmet need. Every day, more women are seeking out non-hormonal, non-invasive forms of contraception as they learn more about their bodies and feel empowered to do so. There are an increasing amount of studies emerging that show how hormonal birth control can affect the body and mind, and women are less afraid to ask questions about what they are putting into their bodies.
IB: Could new technologies be one solution to provide more stable and autonomous resources for contraception?
EB: Technology is definitely a solution for providing more stable and autonomous resources for contraception and for two reasons. First, technology can help provide women with more options – new products are being developed and old ones modified. Second, technology can play a role in making it easier for women to access birth control, especially for women who can’t take time off of work or school to go to see a doctor, or live nearby to a GP.
IB: Given limits – what is available right now – in the form of medtech – to help women with contraception at home during lockdown?
Right now, medtech is certainly making contraception easier to get hold of in lockdown; there are telehealth companies that allow women to meet with doctors to get prescriptions without leaving their house and there are service providers who allow women to get birth control delivered to their door.
Natural Cycles provides women with an option that’s available without a prescription, that can be started right away, and is delivered directly to your door. Lockdown has really proved the value of having access to these flexible alternatives and though we still have a long way to go in many ways, it’s helped pave the way for the future.
