Non-Hormonal Birth Control Through RNA Interference

The on-going study about non-hormonal birth control pills might just see the light of day as researchers and scientists work hand-in-hand to develop a new contraceptive drug that will prevent, if not totally eliminate, the side effects of hormonal birth control.

In a conference of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, the concept of RNA Interference was highlighted as a possible technique in developing the new contraceptive drug. A way of silencing a gene to stop it from its normal function, RNA Interference inhibits a sperm from entering the egg. Researchers from Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston have identified a gene called ZP3 which is active in eggs just before they are fertilized. The protein produced by ZP3 allows the sperm to bind to the surface of the egg. Without this protein, the egg will not be fertilized. When the Boston team “silenced” the ZP3 gene in mice, they could not get pregnant.
While there is yet a contraceptive drug that is non-hormonal and reversible, experts are trying to look at contraception from a different perspective. They are positive that in spite of the obvious obstacles and the length of time it will take, it can be achieved.

According to Professor Bill Ledger of the University of Sheffield, a lot of women still experienced some side effects after using new generation hormonal contraceptives. Most hormonal methods of birth control can cause nausea, headaches, and low sex drive. It can also raise slightly the risk of DVT (deep vein thrombosis) and strokes. They are designed to work by suppressing ovulation. However, in a small percentage of cases, ovulation may still take place. For some women, this may occur every single cycle. As a result, these contraceptives prevent pregnancy through a different method.
Aside from suppressing ovulation, hormonal methods of birth control may also change the lining of the uterus so that implantation of a fertilized egg cannot take place. The embryo is then expelled from the body with the next menstrual period. These possibilities and side effects are causing controversy among women which make some of them avoid hormonal birth control altogether.

However, the new contraceptive pill is still a decade away and may have its own side-effects. Researchers estimate that it will take about 10 years before clinical trials of RNA Interference contraceptive would be possible.

“Obstacles would need to be overcome, and that there was no guarantee that side-effects could be avoided completely,” said Dr. Martin Fabani, a senior researcher that is doing work on the said technique at Cambridge University. He also added that RNA interference has received a “lot of hype” but people are starting to see some 'off-target' effects - where the therapy has an unwanted impact elsewhere in the body.

The advantage of this research into ZP3 is that the gene appears to be active only in eggs prior to the moment of fertilization, and nowhere else in the body. It means that it could be “switched off” without necessarily affecting either the prior development of the egg and ovulation, or other parts of the body.

Article Source: http://www.lifestyle-information-services.com

Monch Bravante is a writer and advertising practitioner with special interest in public health issues.Want to Join an Online Health Board, visit Online Health

Please Rate this Article

5 out of 54 out of 53 out of 52 out of 51 out of 5 

Not yet Rated

Click the XML Icon Above to Receive Health Articles Via RSS!