Volume 30, Issue 168, February 2026

Modern non-hormonal contraceptive methods: development prospects and current state of knowledge

Michał Biernacki, Michał Wójcicki, Agnieszka Kowalska^♦, Milena Kędzierska

Collegium Medicum at Jan Kochanowski University in Kielce, Poland

^♦Corresponding author
Agnieszka Kowalska, Collegium Medicum at Jan Kochanowski University in Kielce, Poland

ABSTRACT

More and more people today are looking for reliable birth control that doesn't involve taking hormones or dealing with the side effects that come with them. This article reviews the options available right now and also takes a look at the new technologies currently being developed. We went through the research on standard methods like condoms and cycle tracking to see how well they actually work. The data shows that the copper IUD is currently the most effective hormone-free choice, and it is safe for almost everyone, even women who haven't had a baby yet. We also found that modern phone apps have made tracking fertility much more accurate and easier to use than in the past. Increasing attention is being paid to new possibilities for male contraception, such as targeting proteins to inhibit sperm motility. We also cover breakthroughs involving special antibodies that trap sperm and new materials like nanofibers that can do multiple jobs at once. Developing these new alternatives is really important because it gives people safe, personalized ways to manage their health without relying on hormones.

Keywords: non-hormonal contraception, intrauterine devices, barrier methods, fertility awareness, male contraception, immunocontraception, effectiveness, future development

Medical Science, 2026, 30, e44ms3804

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.54905/disssi.v30i168.e44ms3804

Published: 27 February 2026