In the 1970s, the contraceptive pill was widely used in Western countries and was particularly popular in Germany, where about one in three women relied on it. The pill was considered safe, reliable, and often covered by health insurance. It also played a significant role in promoting female self-determination during that era.
However, over time, side effects associated with hormonal contraceptives have become more evident. These range from mild issues like nausea and weight gain to serious risks such as high blood pressure, liver dysfunction, and thrombosis. Additionally, some medications—including certain antibiotics and St. John's wort—can decrease the effectiveness of the pill.
Despite these side effects being relatively rare, concerns about potential health risks have led to a decline in the use of the pill. Recent surveys conducted by the German Federal Centre for Health Education indicate that since 2023 fewer women and couples are choosing the pill for contraception. Among younger adults especially, condoms have become the most common method.
A team of researchers is now seeking alternatives to hormonal contraception to reduce side effects for users. Led by Dr. Claudia Tredup and Prof. Stefan Knapp from Goethe University Frankfurt's Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry; Prof. Daniel Merk from Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich; Prof. Hubert Schorle from UKB (also part of the Transdisciplinary Research Area "Life & Health" at the University of Bonn); and Prof. Jean-Pierre Allam, Head of Andrology at UKB—the group has launched a project called PREVENT ("Precision Reproductive and Contraceptive Target Discovery Network"). This initiative has secured three years of funding from the German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space.
PREVENT aims to develop non-hormonal contraceptives with minimal side effects for both men and women by focusing on small molecules that can block proteins unique to sperm or egg cells.
"Hormonal contraceptive methods such as the contraceptive pill interfere with the body's natural hormone cycle. In PREVENT, we are investigating for alternative non-hormonal approaches for both women and men in order to offer couples additional contraceptive options," said Dr. Claudia Tredup from Goethe University Frankfurt's Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry.
The research strategy involves using small molecules that could specifically target sperm cells so they cannot reach egg cells. According to Tredup: "Since contraceptives are administered to healthy individuals, they must not only be reliable and reversible, but also safe and highly tolerable."
To meet these requirements, PREVENT will establish a drug discovery platform designed to validate new non-hormonal contraceptive concepts using advanced technologies and tools. Selective chemical probes will help test new strategies before preclinical or clinical development begins.
Tredup added: "We already know of a number of genes associated with infertility. Within the PREVENT team, we want to build the expertise needed to use the corresponding proteins as target structures for safe, non-hormonal contraceptive strategies." She continued: "With PREVENT, we are also addressing key societal goals of reproductive self-determination and global health policy."
