Future Male Birth Control Could Be Offered in Gel Form. Should Men Be As Responsible For Using Birth Control As Women?

Men might one day be able to slather a gel on their backs and their shoulders that protects against getting their female partners pregnant. In a recent six-month trial involving 68 men, 89% of those who were treated with a gel containing the male hormone testosterone and the female hormone progestin experienced sperm counts so low that pregnancy would be highly unlikely, researchers said. The men reported no effects on their sex drive, but the gel is far from being ready for use in the general population. It would have to work for at least 98%of men before it would be a viable male birth control option. Also, researchers could increase the gel's effectiveness by adding another component to it that suppresses sperm production, and it could help to figure out how to select which men will experience effective sperm suppression when using the substance. In any case, the findings will need to be replicated in larger groups of patients, and long-term data on the gel's safety and effectiveness are needed.

PASS IT ON! A gel containing the hormones testosterone and progestin could one day be an option for reversible birth control for men!

Should Men Be As Responsible For Using Birth Control As Women? (Read about the full research study below.)