A new high-tech birth control option that beats the use of daily pills is being developed by the Gates foundation.

The device, a small remote-operated implant that lasts up to 16 years, can be turned on and off over a wireless connection.

The project funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation aims to explore new forms of birth control, and the remote control implant would be the first hormone-based option that lasts more than five years.


Traditional birth control — namely the pill and condoms — have proven to be less effective because of improper use. Condom use as the sole form of birth control is on the decline, with only about 5 percent of men using them regularly. And it’s easy to forget to take a pill at the same time every day (it’s also rendered ineffective if the woman is taking other medications such as antibiotics).

Using a wireless remote, women get a 30 micrograms daily dose of common birth control hormone levonorgestrel for up to 16 years with no need for refills. Patients would also be able to stop the birth control at any time without making a trip to the doctor to get the implant removed.

The wireless “pill” is set to hit the market by 2018 with pre-clinical trials starting next year, MIT Technology Review first reported. Women would get the chip implanted under the skin on the upper arm, abdomen or buttocks.

Here’s how it works: A tiny implant (20 x 20 x 7 millimeters) would be inserted under the skin of your butt, upper arm, or stomach (interesting?), and each day it would automatically dispense 30 micrograms of levonorgestrel into your body—a hormone already used in several kinds of contraceptives. The dosage would be released thanks to an internal battery that triggers the opening of tiny reservoirs. (Talk about no more remembering or forgetting the Pill!)

As for women who are ready to conceive? They could simply turn the device off with the click of a remote, and then turn it back on when you’re ready to start receiving the daily dosages of hormones. Amazing. But the best part? After 16 years of use, the device can either be removed or replaced. (To put things in perspective, currently no hormonal birth control lasts over five years!).

However, the new project also raises some privacy and security concerns. Because the chip runs on a wireless connection, like many medical devices, it’s vulnerable to hacking.

Hackers can commandeer devices, such as a bluetooth headset or electronic key fob, by tapping into their wireless connection. Medical devices are especially susceptible because their malfunctioning can be life-threatening. A study found that drug infusion pumps that dispensed morphine drips, antibiotics and chemotherapy drugs could be hacked and have the dosages changed or turned off completely, Wired recently reported.

The Gates Foundation has a track record for improving birth control methods. In November, the foundation held a “build a better condom” contest, receiving nearly 1,000 applications. The $1 million contest’s goal was to encourage applicants to design a condom that preserves pleasure for both partners so that people would actually use it.