Experts have developed new contraceptives for women that they are hoping will cut down on abortion rates by paralyzing sperm and give protection from STD's.
Professor John Aitken, from the University of Newcastle, said that the compound, which may eventually take the form of a sponge or vaginal ring to be inserted 2-3 days prior to the sexual intercourse, is unique because it is activated only on contact with semen, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.
Aitken asserted that his team's motivation is to try and reduce the amount of abortions, which are predominantly in under-19s.
Aitken said that there was an "urgent need" to develop better contraceptive methods, as he believes that abortion is not a moral failure but a contraception failure.
He said that the world just doesn't have the right methods to empower women to control their fertility.
The invention is groundbreaking in that the compound does not kill sperm but targets what enables it to swim, and is therefore much safer for women.
