Six decades after the invention of the pill for women, a male hormonal contraceptive is on the horizon as an innovative clinical trial is underway.
450 couples will try for a year and during this time the partner will apply it daily on the chest, shoulders and upper arms.
James Owers, 29, and Diana Bardsley, 27, are among 450 couples who will test the gel in a test that scientists predict will demonstrate an effectiveness equivalent to the female pill and that could transform social attitudes toward reproductive control and pregnancy.
"Men need more options. Right now, it seems easy for them to just say 'it's not my fault,'" James said.
The gel to be applied contains a mixture of progesterone and testosterone. Progesterone stops sperm production, while testosterone compensates for the testosterone drop that is caused.
Scientists hope the gel version, which is being tested in several centers in the UK, Sweden, Chile and Kenya, will be easier to use and have fewer negative side effects.
A minor concern is that the female partner should avoid contact with this part of the body to prevent a dose of testosterone. So men are advised to either take a shower before bed or wear a blouse at night.
After using it for six weeks, Oers learned that his sperm count had dropped to almost zero. He said he felt "quite excited" and mentioned side effects, which for him were "minimal", such as: small spots on the lower back, an increase in sexual desire and the addition of about 2 kilograms.
If the test results are encouraging, the scientific team hopes that there will be interest from pharmaceutical companies to bring the product to market and this could happen within 4-5 years.
Source: The Guardian
