500 signatures reached
To: Rt Hon. Wes Streeting MP, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
We Urgently Call for Investment in Contraception Innovation in the U.K.
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We, the undersigned, call on the the Secretary of State for Health to increase funding for contraceptive innovation.
What Needs to Change:
We call on the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care to take the following steps to ensure modern contraceptive options are accessible to everyone:
- Increase government funding for cutting-edge research into new contraceptive methods.
- Modernise outdated abortion and reproductive laws to bring innovations like contragestives to market.
- Reduce contraceptive wait times to avoid unintended pregnancies
- Support gender equity by investing in male contraceptive research and products.
A Call to Action:
We urge the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care to take bold action to advance contraceptive innovation. By increasing investment, modernising regulations, and supporting groundbreaking research, we can ensure that everyone has access to safe and effective contraception s. The U.K. can lead the way in continuing the revolution that started with the Pill and ensure that future generations benefit from a diverse range of modern, equitable contraceptive solutions.
This petition is not just a call for more options - it’s a call for health, for equality, and for progress. Let’s create a future where reproductive healthcare is inclusive, modern, and accessible for all.
Why is this important?
Contraception empowers people to manage their reproductive health and make choices that shape their futures. options are still limited to different delivery mechanisms for mostly the same set of hormones. This leaves many people without real choice.
It’s time the U.K. leads the way in revolutionising reproductive healthcare by investing in innovative contraceptive solutions for all. That investment would be a net saving for the Government: Over 10 years, there is a £9.00 saving for every £1 invested in publicly provided contraception.3
Investing in contraceptive innovation is about more than saving money. It’s about expanding choice, improving public health, reducing unintended pregnancies, supporting reproductive rights, and creating greater gender equality.
Why Contraceptive Innovation is Urgent:
- Outdated Contraceptive Methods Are Leading Many to Turn Away from Contraception Altogether: Many of today’s widely used contraceptives, including hormonal pills, IUDs, and condoms, have seen little advancement in over half a century. While effective for some, they do not address the needs of everyone. Many women experience serious side effects from hormonal options, and for those who can't use these methods, options are limited. It’s time to make way for better choices for all.
- A New Frontier in Fertility Control – Contragestives – Is on the Horizon: Contragestives are a new type of fertility control that can prevent pregnancy before or after fertilisation. They are distinct from traditional contraceptives and emergency contraceptives, and offer a non-invasive, non-hormonal contraceptive option. However, regulatory challenges and a lack of funding are delaying their availability, despite their potential to significantly reduce unintended pregnancies.
- It’s Time for Gender Equality in Contraceptive Responsibility: The burden of contraceptive responsibility overwhelmingly falls on women, with women bearing both the side effects and costs. Meanwhile, male contraceptives have barely evolved. It’s either condoms or vasectomy. Studies show both women and men want more options so they can share contraceptive responsibilities fairly. And male contraceptive pills, gels and injections are showing great promise – they just require more investment to reach the market.
Sign this petition to show your support for a future where everyone can have access to the contraception they need!
This petition is addressed to The Rt Hon. Wes Streeting MP, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, and aims to reach all those who believe in reproductive rights, innovation, and gender equality in healthcare.
