The Pill: Coming Soon for Men?

“Testosterone Tested as Male Contraceptive.” Salynn Boyles, May 6, 2009.

http://www.webmd.com/sex/birth-control/news/20090506/testosterone-tested-as-male-contraceptive

When you think of birth control, what comes to mind? You may rattle off a few notable oral contraceptive pills, IUDs, or birth control patches, whose advertisements are filled with beautiful, driven young women who are taking control of their sexual health. What do all of these popular methods have in common? Indeed, they are all used by women. But what about their male partners? Should they not also take responsibility for their sexual endeavors? Yes, condoms and other barrier methods such as spermicides are often used, however, what if there was an option for men that provided consistent protection against conception?

This article which was written by Salynn Boyles and appears on WebMD Online presents results from a study which was recently published in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism which display the effectiveness of hormonal birth control in men. The study took a look fertility in 1,000 Asian men after they were given monthly injections of the hormone testosterone, which at high levels is proven to decrease signals sent from the brain that encourage sperm production. The injections proved to be 99% effective in preventing pregnancy in the studied population, and no major side effects were observed. Administered monthly, the treatment’s effects would last for up to about six and a half months, and have been proven to have minimal effects on future fertility. The medium of administration would have to be injections due to the fact that the oral technique was less effective and caused an increase risk of liver damage.

While this method seems to be a viable new technology, several issues remain. It seems that while the testosterone treatments work for Asian men, in Caucasians, another hormone might be necessary to increase efficacy--progestin. In addition, several members of the science community fear a lack of backing from the pharmaceutical industry, which considers monthly injections hardly attractive for consumers. This would mean that further developments would have to be spearheaded by the government and non-profit associations, for example, the Gates Foundation. Although the current political landscape does offer more liberalities in the development of birth control methods, one must ask if our economical situation truly allows the government to firmly back these technological advancements. Indeed, the ground for hormonal--and non-hormonal--contraceptives for men is present, however, whether or not we will see them on the market in the near future is something that only time can tell.

Additional Source: http://www.malecontraceptives.org