Claim: Gates Foundation to launch the world’s first contraceptive that would prevent pregnancy for eight years in women in Kenya
Source: Social media
Verdict: False
Researched by Gifty Danso
Viral claims circulating on social media since August 7, 2025, suggest that the world’s richest man, Bill Gates, through his charity organisation, the Gates Foundation, plans to launch the world’s first contraceptive that can prevent pregnancy for eight years in some African countries.
The post which read: “Bill Gates’ Foundation is set to launch the world’s first contraceptive that will prevent pregnancy for 8 years in Kenya,” was shared by Africa Facts Zones on X. It has garnered 872.3K views, 2.6K reposts, 6K likes, 852 bookmarks, and 2.4K comments.
The claim was also shared on Facebook and Instagram, suggesting the contraceptives, aside Kenya, were to be deployed in Nigeria and India.
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GhanaFact observed that the claim had also been reported by news websites, including Business Insider Africa (here and here), which specifically listed the countries planned for the rollout as Kenya, Nigeria, and India.
This fact-check report will verify:
- Whether it is the first time the contraceptive is being rolled out in the world.
- Whether the Gates Foundation has listed countries for the rollout.
Fact-check
In verifying the claim, GhanaFact found that since 2022, the Gates Foundation had committed funds to a research initiative aimed at scaling up hormonal Intrauterine Devices (IUDs) in new and emerging markets.
The Scale-up of Hormonal IUDs in New and Emerging Markets project, known as “SHINE,” spans from 2022 to 2026 and is being led by FHI 360, a US-based nonprofit, which is conducting the research across Kenya, Malawi, and Nigeria.
“The project is led by FHI 360 with funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. SHINE will be country-driven by a consortium of partners, with consultation provided by the participating countries’ ministries of health,” the organisation said of the project.
“The evidence generated through SHINE will help address priority research questions identified by global and country stakeholders and inform other countries considering future introduction of the hormonal IUD and similar family planning methods,” their statement said.
Most recently, on August 4, 2025, the Gates Foundation announced a $2.5 billion investment into Research and Development focused on a wide range of women-related health issues.
The investment will focus on five key areas: obstetric care and maternal immunisation; maternal health and nutrition; gynaecological and menstrual health; contraceptive innovation; and sexually transmitted infections.
We contacted the Gates Foundation via email to inquire about the narratives alluded to in the claims.
The media spokesperson of the Gates Foundation told our team that the Foundation does not plan to launch contraceptives in Kenya, Nigeria, and India.
“The Gates Foundation has not, nor is it planning to launch contraceptives in Africa, India, or elsewhere. The 8-year contraceptive products are not new in the market,” the Foundation said.
GhanaFact asked about the Business Insider Africa’s quote attributed to the President of the Gender Equality Division at the Foundation, Dr Anita Zaidi, regarding the rollout of the supposed contraceptives in these three countries.
The Foundation responded: “The reference by Dr. Anita Zaidi, the President of the Gender Equality Division at the Gates Foundation, to countries like Nigeria, Kenya, and India related to efforts to expand access by making existing products more affordable and increasing awareness of their full range of benefits.
“That includes supporting efforts to expand provider training and ensure that both providers and women know that H-IUDs are not only a highly effective, long-acting contraceptive (up to 8 years) but are also indicated for the treatment of heavy menstrual bleeding (up to 5 years).
“It’s up to each government to decide which health products make the most sense for their people, based on local needs, safety standards, and public health priorities,” the Foundation added.
But is the introduction of the contraceptive (hormonal IUD) a first in the world, as claimed?
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), hormonal contraceptives prevent pregnancy by stopping ovulation, thickening cervical mucus, and thinning the uterine lining. These can include: oral contraceptives, hormonal IUD, vaginal ring, implants, and injectables.
Planned Parenthood, a sexual health non-profit in the US, defines an IUD (which stands for Intrauterine Device) as a birth control method that sits inside the uterus. The hormonal IUD, one of the types of IUDs, is a small piece of flexible plastic shaped like a T. It has been known to prevent pregnancy in women for several years, spanning as far as five years.
“There are four brands of hormonal IUDs available in the U.S.: Mirena, Kyleena, Liletta, and Skyla. They all work the same and have the same kind of hormone in them. Different hormonal IUDs last for different lengths of time: the Mirena and Liletta IUDs work for up to 8 years. Kyleena works for up to 5 years. Skyla works for up to 3 years,” Planned Parenthood said.
In a 2021 proposal on the nomenclature of a levonorgestrel-releasing hormonal IUD, the WHO noted that the levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine device is available and is a popular choice in the United States of America and some European countries.
“Its use is increasing in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Efforts aimed at facilitating broader access to the levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine device in low- and middle-income countries have increased since 2020,” the WHO said.
This proves that hormonal IUDs are not new, and have been in use for some time, especially in the US and other Western countries.
GhanaFact conducted advanced searches on Google to determine whether the Gates Foundation had started any processes of rolling out contraceptives, especially in Nigeria and Kenya. The results showed that no credible media platform had reported such news.
Verdict
The claim that the launch of the contraceptive by the Gates Foundation would be the first in the world is False. The reference to three countries planned for the rollout is unproven.
