The device tracks progesterone levels via saliva. It's currently possible to track those levels via urine or blood, but saliva is probably the most convenient.
But here's the catch. If you desire to avoid pregnancy, you avoid sexual activity during the fertile window that the device indicates. This is known as a fertility awareness method, and in Catholic circles it's also known as natural family planning.
It is not a contraceptive in the sense that it allows you to have sex during the fertile part of your cycle but not get pregnant.
joezydeco · 1h ago
A long, long time ago I worked for a pharma company that had a very large diagnostics division. hCG tests were their bread and butter.
It was proposed more than once that the pregnancy testing systems could easily be converted to a conception advisor. The lawyers immediately swooped in and feared that people would use it as a birth control system (e.g. go for it on the days it says you're NOT fertile). The liability was too much for them to take.
noname120 · 4h ago
> up to 100% effective
That doesn't mean anything, 0% is included in “up to 100%”.
Leftium · 3h ago
I think the stat was hedged because of this, further down:
> ...100% effective when used perfectly, and 92% effective for typical use.
‘Up to’ 100% effective is the most pointless description I’ve ever heard.
AnimalMuppet · 30m ago
No, it can get worse. I've seen "up to X% off, or even more!" sometimes.
jonplackett · 22m ago
They’re both equally useless since the most useless X could be is… 100.
slau · 3h ago
This is actually a crazy important development if the results can be reproduced in larger studies.
Hormonal contraceptives are absolutely terrible. None of my long term partners were happy with them—whether it was a hormonal implant, hormonal IUD or pill, the side effects have always been ridiculous.
In addition, WHO classified oral contraceptives as G1 carcinogens. So having a potential alternative is incredibly important.
It is insane to me that as a society, we’re fine asking women to “just take drugs” that mess with their reproductive system, affecting their mood, sleep, weight, libido, and blood pressure (and most likely a lot more I’m not aware of).
fipar · 1h ago
My wife asked herself for her IUD, and it made a huge positive difference for her. Her goal was just pain relief; we don’t need contraceptives since I got a vasectomy after our second baby.
Our daughter also asked for contraceptives on her own, and for the same reasons (though the contraceptive part is a nice side-effect in her case).
No society asked either of them for this.
I don’t doubt your partners had bad experiences with contraceptives, but that’s not a universal problem, and it’s also why it’s important to discuss them with the right professional to make the best choice for each person.
slau · 1h ago
I never said they had no uses! I’m glad they are effective in managing your family’s pains (I’ve experienced that as well, so I fully understand where you are coming from).
But that wasn’t really the discussion I was trying to start. I realise I made my point quite poorly.
I was lamenting the fact that because “female contraceptives” are a “solved problem”, there is basically no research or innovation in male contraceptives. See sibling thread.
fipar · 1h ago
I see what you mean now, I’m afraid I misunderstood you.
I never thought about male contraceptives other than condoms or a vasectomy, so I guess I’m part of the reason for the lack of research. That said, I suspect a contributing factor may be that female contraceptives can be used for other reasons (pain relief, having more predictable periods, etc) so that is also a big driving for research (some female contraceptives can be quite expensive). Of course, those side-effects are also what can make them unsuitable in many cases too.
BrandoElFollito · 2h ago
My wife is very happy with her IUD. She had terrible menstrual pains and now it's all gone, including the blood (and related surprises).
So it depends on the person.
I would be super happy to use similarly effective male contraceptives.
slau · 1h ago
Yeah, that was my point, but obviously not very clear. It feels to me like male contraceptive offerings are basically non-existent, and that there is basically no research/innovation in that field because it’s sort of expected that women will shoulder that burden.
123yawaworht456 · 3h ago
which society is that? who are those 'we'?
anon291 · 56m ago
Catholics have been doing this for ages with urine tests. Ignoring any morality whatever, this 'tech' is really old. People malign it as the 'rhythm method'.
However, keep in mind that with the 'in-use' efficacy rate of 92%, about 1/12 couples using this method will fall pregnant in a year.
slau · 28m ago
Which, according to the article, is the exact same rate as oral birth control and much better than condoms.
hagbard_c · 2h ago
Hm, not having read the article yet I had a quick vision of a product which gives a person such bad halitosis that the chance of successful procreation is reduced to an absolute minimum. No pill required, indeed.
Metacelsus · 4h ago
tldr: it's not contraception at all, just a cycle tracking app with salivary progesterone tests
alwa · 1h ago
And more than a little Juicero energy, for a lateral flow strip:
“Inne’s technology uses a lateral flow strip similar to those used in COVID-19 or pregnancy tests. Users place a small amount of saliva on the strip, which contains antibodies that bind to progesterone hormones. The strip is then inserted into a matchbox-sized reading device that takes photos of the strip over 10 minutes, analysing how hormone particles move and develop across the strip.
The reader processes these photos using biochemistry and image processing techniques to determine hormone intensity, which is then synced to a companion mobile app.”
Propelloni · 4h ago
Yeah, it is a medical device and has been approved as such by the UK standard body. Not "Europe" by a far stretch and certainly not EU.
croes · 4h ago
It must be some kind of EU approval or how would you explain
> Following the regulatory approval, Innie’s birth control is now available for purchase in Germany and Austria, with plans to expand to the UK later this year
BrandoElFollito · 2h ago
I think that just the fact that you can buy it does not make it a medical device.
You can buy contraceptive devices such as a larger con you press between your knees (just kidding) but they would not be medically approved as contraceptives.
The device tracks progesterone levels via saliva. It's currently possible to track those levels via urine or blood, but saliva is probably the most convenient.
But here's the catch. If you desire to avoid pregnancy, you avoid sexual activity during the fertile window that the device indicates. This is known as a fertility awareness method, and in Catholic circles it's also known as natural family planning.
It is not a contraceptive in the sense that it allows you to have sex during the fertile part of your cycle but not get pregnant.
It was proposed more than once that the pregnancy testing systems could easily be converted to a conception advisor. The lawyers immediately swooped in and feared that people would use it as a birth control system (e.g. go for it on the days it says you're NOT fertile). The liability was too much for them to take.
That doesn't mean anything, 0% is included in “up to 100%”.
> ...100% effective when used perfectly, and 92% effective for typical use.
Hormonal contraceptives are absolutely terrible. None of my long term partners were happy with them—whether it was a hormonal implant, hormonal IUD or pill, the side effects have always been ridiculous.
In addition, WHO classified oral contraceptives as G1 carcinogens. So having a potential alternative is incredibly important.
It is insane to me that as a society, we’re fine asking women to “just take drugs” that mess with their reproductive system, affecting their mood, sleep, weight, libido, and blood pressure (and most likely a lot more I’m not aware of).
Our daughter also asked for contraceptives on her own, and for the same reasons (though the contraceptive part is a nice side-effect in her case).
No society asked either of them for this.
I don’t doubt your partners had bad experiences with contraceptives, but that’s not a universal problem, and it’s also why it’s important to discuss them with the right professional to make the best choice for each person.
But that wasn’t really the discussion I was trying to start. I realise I made my point quite poorly.
I was lamenting the fact that because “female contraceptives” are a “solved problem”, there is basically no research or innovation in male contraceptives. See sibling thread.
I never thought about male contraceptives other than condoms or a vasectomy, so I guess I’m part of the reason for the lack of research. That said, I suspect a contributing factor may be that female contraceptives can be used for other reasons (pain relief, having more predictable periods, etc) so that is also a big driving for research (some female contraceptives can be quite expensive). Of course, those side-effects are also what can make them unsuitable in many cases too.
So it depends on the person.
I would be super happy to use similarly effective male contraceptives.
However, keep in mind that with the 'in-use' efficacy rate of 92%, about 1/12 couples using this method will fall pregnant in a year.
“Inne’s technology uses a lateral flow strip similar to those used in COVID-19 or pregnancy tests. Users place a small amount of saliva on the strip, which contains antibodies that bind to progesterone hormones. The strip is then inserted into a matchbox-sized reading device that takes photos of the strip over 10 minutes, analysing how hormone particles move and develop across the strip.
The reader processes these photos using biochemistry and image processing techniques to determine hormone intensity, which is then synced to a companion mobile app.”
> Following the regulatory approval, Innie’s birth control is now available for purchase in Germany and Austria, with plans to expand to the UK later this year
You can buy contraceptive devices such as a larger con you press between your knees (just kidding) but they would not be medically approved as contraceptives.