A company in Melbourne is researching a spray contraceptive, reports Australia’s WA Today. It will be the first of its kind. Users will apply the spray, comprised of a contraceptive called Nestorone, to their forearm. The company, called Acrux, says that this form of contraceptive is safer than other forms of contraception:

"…using the spray form of the drug allows smaller dose sizes, reducing side-effects including water retention and breast tenderness, and in the long term, cardio-vascular problems such as blood clots."

Their trials seemed to be successful. In them, 40 women used the spray daily for two weeks; each of the women had sufficient levels of Nestorone in their bloodstreams, and showed no side effects. Two weeks is a remarkably short amount of time for testing a drug, so it’s unclear what long-term effects the drug might have.

It’s seems like there are plenty of ways this could be marketed, though. Ease of use? Richard Treagus, the managing director of Acrux, says,

"What it does is present a convenient, discreet treatment option for women, presenting them with an alternative choice. I think that is important when it comes to contraception."

My first, immature thought was: could they mix it with a spray deodorant? I’m also wondered if the novelty of the spray contraceptive might trivialize contraception.

I think the more plausible direction this could take – and this seems to be the goal of those developing this contraceptive – is that the spray will normalize contraceptive use. If the spray is easier to use and less dangerous than other forms (such as pills, patches, and vaginal rings), it makes perfect sense that more women might use this form of contraceptive, and this is only good news.