Medicines contraceptive of olives and dandelions should effectively avoid pregnancy

Physicians try to produce a contraceptive from natural ingredients
The so-called contraceptive pill for women can protect those affected from an unwanted pregnancy. However, there are some statements about adverse side effects on mental health. Researchers have now discovered that natural ingredients of olives and dandelions may be able to prevent pregnancies as well.

Researchers at the University of California at Berkeley found that a natural contraceptive pill made from olives and dandelions can prevent pregnancy. The doctors published a press release on the results of their study.

Can natural ingredients from olives and dandelions be used to prevent pregnancies? Researchers found that in the future, pills made from the ingredients mentioned above could be used effectively to prevent them. Such use would result in fewer side effects. (Image: Dušan Zidar-fotolia)

Natural form of contraceptive pill in sight?
When women use the contraceptive pill, there are certain health risks. For example, we know that ingesting increases the risk of deadly blood clots, say the experts. At the present time, many women are afraid of pill-induced hormonal changes that can affect both body and mind. But researchers now found a natural alternative.

Olives and dandelion for contraception?
We have found some natural ingredients in olives that could potentially be used to prevent pregnancies, scientists say. In addition, dandelion could be used to make sperm harder through a protective wall of cells around the egg, the scientists explain.

Natural chemicals can prevent pregnancy
For their examination, the physicians looked at how sperm were affected by the naturally occurring chemicals. They found that the sperm were unable to break the barrier around an unfertilized egg. So no fertilization could be initiated. Normally, sperm penetrate the egg cell by a whiplash motion. This is initiated by the hormone progesterone, which release the cells around the egg, the authors explain. Testosterone, estrogen and the stress hormone cortisol compete with progesterone. All of these hormones blocked the lash-like movement of the Scourge. This prevents the sperm from penetrating the protective wall of cells.

What are Lupeol and Pristimerin included?
Lupeol and pristimine also affect this movement of sperm. This can of course prevent an unfertilized egg and sperm from meeting. For example, Lupeol and Pristimerin are also found in aloe vera, grapes and mangoes, the researchers say.

In what form could this non-hormonal method be used for contraception?
The scientists suggest that this non-hormonal method of contraception could also be used as a permanent birth control in the form of a skin patch or as a vaginal ring. Probably a use as an emergency contraceptive would be conceivable, explain the experts.

Contraceptive could be used in both sexes
Probably can be produced by the new findings, a contraceptive, which can take both sexes, the researchers report. This would be the first contraceptive for men that has a long-term effect. Some time ago, there was a first male contraceptive pill, which was withdrawn from the market because it seemed to weaken the mental health of men. The new natural contraceptive represents a better alternative to contraception, the scientists explain.

Further research is needed
Because these two herbal compounds block fertilization even at very low concentrations (about 10 times lower than the level of the emergency contraceptive levonorgestrel), they could be a new form of emergency contraceptive. The use of a lower concentration non-hormonal compound to prevent fertilization may be a better option, say the authors. The scientists hope that such a newly developed pill will be available in the market in about three years. Of course, further research is needed for this. (As)