How’s this sound? Just implant this contraceptive device in you–easy procedure, no worries–and it’ll last for 16 years, or half your reproductive life. But wait, that’s not all–as the TV sales pitch says–you can turn it on and off whenever you want! With a remote control. Change your mind about family planning–gone from never-gonna-have-kids to let’s-gets-started? No need to visit a doctor, as was required with previous implanted contraceptives. Just click the remote to OFF and start the ovulation watch. It’s that simple.
The device is being developed by a Massachusetts company called MicroCHIPS of Lexington, Massachusetts. According to MIT, the idea came after Microsoft founder Bill Gates visited the MIT lab of Robert Langer and asked about the feasibility of long-lasting birth control that turned on and off. (The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation’s interest in birth control stems from its potential roles in the health-related issues it works on.) The product is expected to be ready in 2018. It hopes to catch a wave of family planning initiatives funded by organizations like the Gates Foundation and other nonprofits. This is one remote control you won’t want to lose track of!
