In the realm of family planning, men’s birth control methods have largely stayed the same for decades, relying mostly on condoms and vasectomies. Hormonal birth control, on the other hand, has long been considered the domain of women, involving pills and shots. But this might change soon according to a study published last month.
Researchers shared recent findings in the development of a new hormonal option for male birth control—a gel applied topically. This breakthrough follows a successful clinical trial involving over 300 participants.
The need for such a method is described as an “unmet need” by researchers, a sentiment echoed by many American men. A 2017 survey of 1,500 U.S. men revealed that 85% wanted to take responsibility for birth control to prevent their partners from getting pregnant.
However, a commercially available product is still some time away. Let’s explore why it has taken so long and how we have evolved from using sheep intestines to pills and hormonal gels. Here’s a look back at the history of male birth control.
The Latest Innovation: Hormonal Gel
In a study published last month, researchers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) detailed a new male contraceptive gel that has been under development since 2005. This gel combines hormones called segesterone acetate (known as nestorone) and testosterone. Applied daily to the shoulder, it works by suppressing sperm production.
The nestorone in the gel limits testosterone production in the testes, lowering sperm count to less than 1 million sperm per milliliter of semen. The suppression occurred more quickly than in past studies, with 86% of the 222 men reaching the desired count by week 15. The midpoint for sperm suppression was less than 8 weeks, compared to 9-15 weeks in prior studies.
Testosterone regulates more than just sperm production, so suppressing it for birth control purposes has some challenges.
Dr. Diana Blithe, senior researcher and chief of the Contraceptive Development Program at NIH, stated, “The development of a safe, highly effective, and reliably reversible contraceptive method for men is an unmet need. While studies have shown that some hormonal agents may be effective for male contraception, the slow onset of spermatogenic suppression remains a limitation.”
Ongoing studies are examining the gel’s effectiveness, safety, acceptability, and reversibility after stopping treatment.
Previous Attempts at New Male Birth Control Methods
The gel is not the first attempt at developing hormonal male birth control.
Earlier efforts were halted due to unfavorable side effects like mood swings, altered libido, and acne. These symptoms are similar to those experienced by women using hormonal birth control.
In 2019, a male birth control pill called 11-beta-MNTDC passed early safety tests conducted by LABioMed and the University of Washington in Seattle. The drug significantly reduced hormones needed for sperm production but might take another decade to become marketable.
In February 2023, researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine tested a non-hormonal drug that made male mice temporarily infertile. The study found that the mice’s fertility returned quickly with minimal side effects, suggesting the pill could be used “as needed.”
In Indonesia, a plant-based male birth control called gendarussa was studied in the 2010s and found to be 99% effective. The plant contains enzymes that temporarily inhibit sperm function, similar to the drugs mentioned above.
