How does male birth control work

More research is needed to determine the long-term efficacy and safety of this new male pill, which, if successful, would make it a convenient and exciting new option for men.

In the last few years, a new wave of research into male hormonal birth control has resurged, leading to the development of a topical gel combining progestin and testosterone 13, 2 , with reliable rates of azoospermia The drug is reversible and the side effects decreased libido, increased risk of sunburn at the application site and dry, scaly rash at application site , were found to be acceptable by most people in the study 13, As of this writing, the treatment has passed human safety tests and a human clinical trial 11, This new combination hormonal gel may be the first drug that is an equal alternative to the female birth control pill, in terms of reversibility and availability in a single application, but will likely be in drug trials for years before it is available to the general public New research in male birth control is underway.

In China, a new method is being developed, using an injection of non-hormonal chemicals that block the vas deferens , the tube that transports sperm to the ejaculatory duct. This is the same tube that gets cut in a vasectomy to inhibit sperm motility.

While hormonal methods may take months to become effective, this method is believed to be effective in as little as two weeks but may take up to 20 weeks It is an exciting new development in contraception and fertility, although as of it has only been tested on rats More research is needed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of both hormonal and non-hormonal approaches.

Still, a male birth control method that gives people of all genders equal opportunity to take responsibility for fertility is an exciting prospect. Further, growing awareness of the disproportionate burden that women take on when it comes to pregnancy and contraception will hopefully shift the cultural conversation to help bring a product to market sooner rather than later.

Are vaginal fluids really all that different? In this article, we explain how to identify vaginal discharge, arousal fluid, and cervical fluid. Science is evolving each day on how coronavirus affects pregnancy, lactation, and postpartum. Males have fewer birth control options than females, and most temporary male birth control techniques have a fairly high failure rate.

In the meantime, health experts recommend that males discuss birth control options with a doctor and their partners. A vasectomy is a form of contraception that involves surgically cutting or blocking tubes that transport sperm. The semen will no longer contain sperm. A vasectomy is a common surgical procedure that works as an effective form of male contraception. We look at side effects, risks, and recovery…. Spermicide condoms are designed to kill the sperm before they can reach the egg.

They offer a number of benefits, including additional protection, but…. A condom can prevent pregnancy and reduce the risk of sexually transmitted infections. Find out about male and female condoms and how to use them. Birth control is used to prevent pregnancy. Find out about the different means available, how they work, and how effective they are. What are the birth control options for men? Medically reviewed by Carolyn Kay, M. Permanent birth control Barrier methods Behavioral methods Clinical trials Summary Condoms and spermicides are two of the most common birth control options for males, while a vasectomy provides a permanent option.

Permanent birth control. Barrier methods. Behavioral methods. Clinical trials. Exposure to air pollutants may amplify risk for depression in healthy individuals. Costs associated with obesity may account for 3. Related Coverage. Everything you need to know about vasectomy. She and colleagues have come up with a body gel men in the UK will be trying as part of an international trial.

Users apply it daily to their back and shoulders, where it can be absorbed through the skin. Progestin hormone in the gel blocks natural testosterone production in the testicles, reducing sperm production to low or nonexistent levels, while replacement testosterone in the gel maintains sex drive and other functions that rely on the hormone. And trials in men have suggested this is safe enough to move into the next phase of testing.

Other scientists have been trying delivering longer-acting birth control hormones in a jab given every other month. But they stopped enrolling men to their phase-two study , looking at the safety and effectiveness of the injection, after some of the volunteers reported side-effects, including mood disorders or depression.

For men who don't fancy taking hormones, researchers have been looking at ways to block sperm flow, stopping it from ever leaving the penis - effectively, a non-surgical vasectomy.

Vasalgel - a polymer material that is injected into the two ducts that transports sperm from the left and right testicles to the penis - is being developed as a non-hormonal, reversible, long-acting male contraceptive. So far, it has been tested in animals only - but the researchers behind it have recently received funding to look to begin human trials. Prof Richard Anderson, of the University of Edinburgh, is leading one of the UK trials that will test a contraceptive body gel on men.

He said the pharmaceutical industry had been slow to get behind the idea of a new male contraceptive despite good evidence that both men and their female partners would welcome the additional choice. With little industry involvement, he said, researchers had had to rely on charitable and academic funding, which took time. Allan Pacey, professor of andrology, at the University of Sheffield, said: "The development of a male birth control pill, or injection, has had a chequered history without much success so far and so it is good to see that new preparations are being tested.

Male contraceptive gel to be trialled. Endocrine Society.