This six month micro-needle skin patch could soon replace the contraceptive pill

Groundbreaking.

Let us just be honest - we all have those days where we stupidly forget to take our pill. A risky game, at the best of times. But now it seems as though the days of setting reminders on your phone are coming to an end. An inexpensive skin patch that lasts for six months is currently being developed in the US, and it may solve all our problems. The microneedle skin patch technology was originally developed for the painless administration of vaccines. Genius in itself. Once the patch is applied for a few seconds, the microscopic needles break off and remain under the surface of the skin. Science alert: the biodegradable polymers slowly release the contraceptive drug called levonorgestrel over time. This is a major step, because current contraceptive patches all run the risk of falling off. Other long term forms of contraception, like the coil or the injection, require a nurse or doctor. These patches would not require anyone but your fine self. Professor Mark Prausnitz is the brains behind this concept, and said: "There is a lot of interest in providing more options for long-acting contraceptives. "Our goal is for women to be able to self-administer long-acting contraceptives with the microneedle patch that would be applied to the skin for five seconds just once a month." Gregory Kopf, director of R&D Contraceptive Technology Innovation at Family Health International said: "The microneedle patch delivery platform being developed by Dr Prausnitz and his colleagues for contraception is an exciting advancement in women's health." "This self-administered long-acting contraceptive will afford women discreet and convenient control over their fertility, leading to a positive impact on public health by reducing both unwanted and unintended pregnancies." This would be incredible.