The Future of Contraception: Why Portfolia is Backing Innovation in Women's Health

The contraceptive landscape is undergoing a remarkable transformation. For decades, most of the responsibility for preventing pregnancy has rested on women, often with limited choices and difficult tradeoffs.

Globally, the female contraceptive market is valued at more than 23 billion dollars in 2025 and is projected to reach about 34 billion dollars by 2030. New products, care models, and digital platforms are reshaping how people access and use birth control.

For Portfolia, this is not only a healthcare story but an investing story. We're proud to be at the forefront of this revolution, backing groundbreaking companies that are redefining what's possible in family planning.

This article walks through the unmet needs in contraception, the shifts transforming the market, and why Portfolia and our community of women investors are backing innovation in contraception. 

Why Contraception Still Falls Short For Many Women?

Modern birth control has changed the world, yet significant gaps remain.

At the same time, nearly half of pregnancies in the United States are still unintended, which points to a big gap between what is available and what people actually need. That statistic reflects a mix of access barriers, side effects that lead people to stop using birth control, and methods that do not match what users want or need in real life.

Common pain points include:

• Hormonal side effects such as mood changes, weight gain, headaches, and changes in bleeding patterns
• Concerns about long-term hormone use and the desire for hormone-free options
• Methods that are highly effective but invasive or clinic dependent such as intrauterine devices that require an insertion procedure
• Limited options for people who cannot tolerate or do not want estrogen-based contraception
• Very few practical options for men beyond condoms and permanent procedures

For innovators and investors, this is a clear signal. The demand for effective, safe, and more user-friendly contraception remains high, and the category is ready for new science and new business models.

Why Innovation Matters Now More Than Ever?

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The contraceptive market is experiencing three powerful tailwinds:

1. Growing demand for hormone free options

More women are actively looking for ways to prevent pregnancy without altering their hormone levels. Interest in copper based options and new non hormonal methods continues to rise. This is driving research into targets beyond the traditional hormone pathways.

2. Digital health and easier access

Telehealth has changed how people get prescriptions and follow up care. Online platforms that offer contraceptive consultations, refills, and counseling are growing quickly and are making it easier for people to start and stay on contraception, especially in communities that are medically underserved.

3. Shared responsibility in family planning

There is growing recognition that contraception should not rest only on women. Couples are increasingly interested in shared responsibility and more choices for men. This is where male contraception and specifically non hormonal male contraception becomes especially important.

Portfolia's Investment in YourChoice Therapeutics

This is why we're particularly excited about YourChoice Therapeutics, a pioneering company in Portfolia's Women's Health Fund IV portfolio. YourChoice represents everything we look for in an investment: innovation that addresses real needs, strong scientific foundations, and the potential for transformative impact.

The YourChoice Story

Founded in 2018 by researchers from UC Berkeley, YourChoice set out to develop non-hormonal contraceptives that work for both women and men. What started as a Y Combinator-backed startup has evolved into the only company currently conducting human clinical trials for a male birth control pill.

Their lead compound, YCT-529, represents a first-in-class approach to contraception. Rather than using hormones, it targets retinoic acid receptor-alpha (RAR-alpha), a well-understood pathway essential for sperm production. In preclinical studies, YCT-529 demonstrated a 99% success rate in preventing pregnancies in mice and complete reversibility within weeks of stopping treatment.

Clinical Progress

YourChoice has achieved significant milestones:

• $15 million Series A funding raised in 2022, led by Future Ventures
• Phase 1a human trials completed in June 2024 with positive safety results
• Phase 1b/2a trials currently underway in New Zealand, assessing both safety and efficacy
• Peer-reviewed publication in Nature's Communications Medicine journal, validating their scientific approach

The company completed its first-in-human phase 1a study in December 2024, making history as the first non-hormonal, oral male contraceptive to reach clinical trials. The results demonstrated a favorable safety profile, paving the way for efficacy testing.

Beyond Male Contraception

While YourChoice is currently focused on male contraception, their platform technology has applications for women as well. The company's long-term vision includes developing hormone-free contraceptive options for women, leveraging their expertise in reproductive biology and novel molecular targets.

This dual approach is strategic. By expanding contraceptive options for men, YourChoice doesn't just add a new product to the market—they fundamentally change the dynamics of family planning, offering couples more choices and shared responsibility.

The Portfolia Advantage

YourChoice exemplifies why Portfolia's model works so well for women's health investments. Our community of nearly 2,000 women investors brings unique insights into products and services we actually want in the world. When we evaluated YourChoice, our members immediately understood the market need because many have lived it.

Our Women's Health Fund IV, led by seasoned investors including biotech pioneer Nola Masterson and immunologist Dr. Faz Bashi, has made over 100 investments in 46 women's health companies. We've backed multiple billion-dollar unicorns and established ourselves as the most active investor in women's health globally.

Why Women's Health Investing Makes Financial and Social Sense?

The women's health sector offers compelling returns alongside meaningful impact. Despite making 80% of healthcare decisions, women face persistent gaps in diagnosis, treatment, and quality of care. This represents a massive market opportunity.

Our Women's Health Fund IV targets three categories:

• Women-specific conditions: fertility, menopause, maternal health, gynecology, oncology
• Conditions affecting women differently: cardiovascular disease, diabetes, Alzheimer's
• Conditions disproportionately affecting women: autoimmune disease, osteoporosis, anxiety, depression

YourChoice fits squarely in the first category, addressing fundamental reproductive health needs that have been underserved for decades.

The Market Opportunity

The numbers tell a compelling story:

• Global contraceptive market: Growing from $21 billion in 2025 to $44 billion by 2034 (8.4% CAGR)
• Female contraceptive market: Expected to reach $34 billion by 2030
• Non-hormonal methods: Fastest-growing segment, driven by consumer demand for safer options
• Direct-to-consumer channels: Growing at 11.3% CAGR as telehealth transforms distribution

Long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs) are expanding at 9.3% CAGR, reflecting growing preference for "set it and forget it" methods. However, oral contraceptives remain popular due to their convenience and non-invasive nature—exactly where YourChoice's male pill could capture significant market share.

Breaking Down Barriers

Male contraception has remained largely unchanged for centuries; condoms or vasectomy have been the only options. This lack of innovation reflects historical assumptions about who should bear contraceptive responsibility, inadequate research funding, and technical challenges in male reproductive biology.

YourChoice is changing this narrative. By successfully advancing a male contraceptive pill through clinical trials, they're demonstrating that male contraception is not only scientifically feasible but commercially viable. Early surveys suggest strong interest from men who want more control over their reproductive choices and from women who would welcome shared contraceptive responsibility.

Looking Ahead

The path from clinical trials to market approval requires patience and persistence, but YourChoice is well-positioned for success. Their approach has several advantages:

• ‍Strong scientific foundation: Nearly 100 years of research on vitamin A's role in reproduction provides robust validation for their target.‍
• Experienced team: Co-founders Nadja Mannowetz (CSO) and Akash Bakshi bring deep expertise in reproductive biology and commercialization.‍
• Supportive investors: Beyond Portfolia, YourChoice has backing from Future Ventures and support from the Male Contraceptive Initiative, which recognizes the societal need for expanded options.‍
• Favorable regulatory pathway: As a contraceptive for healthy individuals, YCT-529 benefits from well-established regulatory frameworks.

Ready To Back The Next Generation of Contraception?

Contraception is changing. Unintended pregnancy rates, growing demand for hormone-free methods, and the rise of male contraception are all pointing in the same direction. Families want more choice. Women want less burden. Men want real ways to share responsibility.

For investors who care about both meaningful returns and the realities of everyday life, contraception innovation is not a niche. It is a central part of the future of reproductive health and family planning.

If this vision resonates with you, we invite you to learn more about how Portfolia's Women Health Funds invest in companies reshaping contraception and reproductive care. Inside the Portfolia experience, you join a community of people pooling capital, insight, and lived experience to back founders working in the moments that matter most.

The contraceptive revolution is here. The question isn't whether innovation will transform family planning; it's who will participate in making it happen.

Get in touch with our team to understand more.