Scientists develop birth control earrings to prevent pregnancy

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.

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.

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.

According to a press release from the Georgia Institute of Technology, researchers tested an earring patch that consisted of three layers.

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.

Once it is in the skin, the contraceptive drug moves into the bloodstream and can then circulate through the body.

The earring patches were tested on pigs' ears and the skin of hairless rats by being applied for sixteen hours and removed for 8.

While drug levels dropped when the earrings were off, the patches were found to produce the necessary amounts of the hormone in the blood.

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.