Switch on, switch off: the new form of contraception
Researchers in the Netherlands are developing a completely new method of contraception.
Published on June 3, 2025
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Researchers in the Netherlands are developing a completely new method of contraception. A kind of ‘gate’ in the fallopian tubes that makes contraception reversible. With the technology almost ready, the Máxima Medical Center in Eindhoven is now starting the clinical trial phase.
The company Choice is developing this first mechanical contraceptive method. They are working on a tiny stent: a mesh tube with two valves and a spring. The mechanism is bistable—just like a light switch, it clicks firmly open or closed with a single push. The stent is placed at the beginning of the fallopian tube without surgery, using a specially developed catheter. To check that everything is in place, a mini-endoscope has also been developed, complete with camera and light.
New form of contraception is welcome
A new form of contraception could be a godsend for many women. Even in Europe and North America, where access to contraception is good, a third of all pregnancies are unwanted. Worldwide, the figure is almost half – 121 million women become pregnant unintentionally every year, according to the UN.
Existing methods are not always reliable. Condoms can break and the pill can be forgotten. Even the IUD is controversial, as insertion is very painful for some women.
A busy schedule
The next step is animal testing with rabbits, which are ideal for testing the device due to their fertility and accessible fallopian tubes. The study is currently being funded by the US NIH. But after that, funding will be a challenge. Start-up grants helped in the beginning, but new funding is difficult to secure: venture capitalists are sometimes reluctant to invest. Nevertheless, these investments are crucial to ultimately making the technology available to women.
Choice is a former winner of the Gerard & Anton Awards, in 2020. Each year, the Gerard & Anton Awards committee puts ten promising start-ups from the Brainport region in the spotlight.
