科學家說一個月一次的避孕藥對豬有效。他們想在接下來的人身上進行測試

科學家說一個月一次的避孕藥對豬有效。他們想在接下來的人身上進行測試

Scientists say they have made a breakthrough on developing a contraceptive pill that only needs to be taken once a month.

科學家表示，他們在開發(fā)一種每月只需服用一次的避孕藥方面取得了突破。

The star-shaped capsule could help reduce unintended pregnancies that arise from users forgetting to take their daily dose of the pill, according to a news release from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

據麻省理工學院(MIT)發(fā)布的一份新聞稿稱，這種星狀膠囊可以幫助減少因忘記服用每日劑量的藥片而導致的意外懷孕。

The capsule is coated with gelatin that can remain in the stomach for weeks after being swallowed, the researchers said. From there, it slowly releases hormones to prevent pregnancy.

研究人員說，膠囊上有一層明膠，可以在吞咽后留在胃里數周。從那里，它慢慢地釋放激素來防止懷孕。

Tests conducted on pigs showed that the capsule could provide the same effect as taking daily doses. "We are hopeful that this work -- the first example ever of a month-long pill or capsule to our knowledge -- will someday lead to potentially new modalities and options for women's health," said Robert Langer, a MIT professor and co-author of the study.

在豬身上進行的試驗表明，這種膠囊可以提供與每日服用相同的效果。麻省理工學院(MIT)教授、該研究的合著者羅伯特·蘭格表示:“我們希望這項研究——據我們所知，這是迄今為止第一個長達一個月的藥片或膠囊的研究——有朝一日將為女性健康帶來潛在的新模式和新選擇。”

Human trials

人體試驗

The research was mostly funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which urged the team to develop new long-lasting contraceptive drugs to reduce the risk of unintended pregnancies.

這項研究主要由比爾和梅琳達·蓋茨基金會資助，該基金會敦促研究小組開發(fā)新的長效避孕藥物，以降低意外懷孕的風險。

To make it work, researchers looked for materials that could survive a highly acidic fluid. Once the capsule reaches the stomach, it expands and becomes lodged in place.

為了使其發(fā)揮作用，研究人員尋找能夠在高酸性流體中存活的材料。一旦膠囊到達胃部，它就會膨脹并滯留在適當的位置。

The capsule is designed to break down after three or four weeks, and will exit the body through the digestive tract.

這種膠囊被設計成在三到四周后分解，然后通過消化道排出體外。

Langer said further research is being conducted to develop the pill for human tests, which he hoped would be possible within three to five years.

蘭格說，目前正在進行進一步的研究，以開發(fā)用于人體測試的藥片，他希望在三到五年內能夠實現。

Effective method

有效的方法

The oral contraceptive is one of the most popular contraception methods used around the world. In the United States, it is the second most common contraceptive method for women aged between 15 and 49, according to a survey conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

口服避孕藥是世界上最流行的避孕方法之一。據美國疾病控制與預防中心的一項調查顯示，在美國，這是年齡在15歲至49歲之間的女性使用的第二大避孕方法。

It is also highly effective -- when used properly, fewer than one in every hundred women will become pregnant in a year, according to nonprofit group Planned Parenthood. However, the effectiveness rate is closer to 91%, as close to one-third of users have reported missing their dose during a menstrual cycle, the CDC says.

據非營利性組織“計劃生育”稱，如果使用得當，它也是非常有效的，每年懷孕的女性不到百分之一。然而，美國疾病控制與預防中心說，藥物的有效性接近91%，因為近三分之一的服用者報告在月經周期期間沒有服用藥物。

Kimberly Scarsi, a professor of pharmacy practice at the University of Nebraska, who is unaffiliated with the research, said she believed the new pill could help reduce the lack of access to contraceptives, which has given rise to unnecessary maternal and newborn deaths.

內布拉斯加大學的藥學實踐教授金伯利·斯卡爾西沒有參與這項研究，她說，她相信這種新藥丸可以幫助減少避孕藥具的缺乏（現狀），而這種缺乏導致了孕婦和新生兒不必要的死亡。

"A once-monthly oral contraceptive would provide a discreet, noninvasive birth control option that could significantly improve medication adherence to give women more control over their health and family planning decisions," she said.

她說:“每月一次的口服避孕藥將提供一種謹慎的、非侵入性的節(jié)育選擇，可以顯著提高服藥依從性，讓婦女更多地控制自己的健康和計劃生育決策。”