# Hydrogels in Contraceptive Applications and Their Mechanisms of Action

## TL;DR

This review explores hydrogels as a promising new approach for contraception, focusing on their mechanisms of action and potential for future development.

## Contribution

The paper reviews hydrogel-based contraceptive systems and emphasizes their mechanisms of action for future innovation.

## Key findings

- Hydrogels can mimic natural tissue and are being explored for contraceptive use.
- Most hydrogel contraceptives still target women, but new technologies are emerging.
- Understanding hydrogel mechanisms can lead to improved contraceptive formulations.

## Abstract

The prevention of
unplanned pregnancies is a global problem that
requires immediate attention. The livelihoods of both men and women
are affected by this issue. The best way to prevent unplanned pregnancies
is by means of contraception. The majority of contraceptive options
currently available target female contraception, with men’s
options mostly limited to condoms and vasectomies. A relatively unexplored
solution to this problem is the use of hydrogels in contraceptive
applications. Hydrogels are water-insoluble polymer networks that
have the ability to absorb water and, once swollen, start to mimic
the structure and flexibility of natural tissue. Hydrogels have been
used in a multitude of biomedical applications for this reason. The
purpose of this review is to explore some of the hydrogel systems
that have been designed for this purpose, placing emphasis on the
mechanisms of action that provide contraception. Understanding the
mechanisms of action behind hydrogel contraceptives allows for the
design and development of new methods and the improvement of existing
formulations. The majority of the hydrogels that have been designed
for contraceptive purposes again target the child-bearing half of
the couple; however, this growing field of research is relatively
new and unexplored, and some of the technologies that are currently
being investigated might soon find their way to the market. The use
of hydrogels in contraceptive applications is a promising solution
to this global issue.