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The Male Birth Control Pill
A 1997 research conducted by scientists at the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation
showed that almost 70% of the male and female respondents thought that men
should be more involved in the choice of birth control methods used by a
couple. However, when it comes to contraception, men only have one
reversible choice: the condom, which means chances are low that they
will be involved in this choice. Birth control is still a female
responsibility, since almost all methods primarily concern the woman's
health and body.
In the foreseeable future, however, birth control will stop being a
women thing. A safe, effective and reversible hormonal male contraceptive
is on its way to the drug stores, 40 years after the invention of the
female pill. Why did it took so long? The female contraceptive contains
hormones that prevent the ovaries from releasing the egg. But women
produce only one egg in 28 days, while men release 1 million sperm
cells during each ejaculation. Controlling an egg is obviously much
easier than controlling millions of sperms.
Since male contraception is so difficult to achieve, how would the birth
control pill work?
Two methods are being researched for the time being:
The main ingredient under investigation is the male hormone, testosterone,
which is responsible, between other things, of controlling sperm
production. Contrary to what you may think, giving a man extra
testosterone can shut down sperm production. Testosterone and other
fertility hormones, called gonadotropins "tell" the testes to produce
sperm. When sperm production is complete, the testicles produce
testosterone and inhibin (another hormone) which tells the brain
that there is enough sperm. At this point, sperm production is stopped.
A high dose of testosterone in the blood system will trick the brain,
telling it that there is enough sperm, even if, actually, there is not.
It sounds pretty interesting, but there is also a problem: giving a
man high doses of testosterone can cause side effects such as: acne,
weight gain, prostate troubles.
The second method involves another hormone, progesterone
(the one contained in female contraceptives). Given to men in low doses,
progesterone stops semen production in the testicles. On the other hand,
since it is a female hormone, it can affect male sexual characteristics,
so men who receive even low dose of progesterone must also take
testosterone supplements in order to maintain male sexuality in
normal levels.
Since the second method seems more promising most researches are focused
on the development of a progestogen implant combined with testosterone
injections.
As soon as the male contraceptive pill is ready for use it will be
available in various formulations: a daily pill to be taken orally,
a patch or gel to be applied to the skin, an injection given every
three months or an implant placed under the skin every 12 months.
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