When we talk about birth control, we always think about female bodies and their contraceptive methods. However, male contraceptives to control pregnancy are also a thing but not a reality. Here are 5 male birth control men will never get to use.
- The progestogen shot
The progestogen shot is a simple injection to a man’s butt which has the ability to reduce a man’s fertility.
The shot basically is a combination of some form of testosterone hormone which reverses a man’s fertility and the progestogen which accelerates the testosterone’s efficacy. This shot was first developed in the 1970s.
The progestogen shot was last seen in October 2016 when it had an almost successful human trial that resulted in many satisfied customers—or in this case, we should say satisfied ‘lab rats’.
But unfortunately, the shot had a small rate of irreversible side effect which forced funding for it to be discontinued.
That side effect was, some men who had participated in the trial test could not get their fertility back, which was seen as a huge error in the composition of the shot.
Still, some men who—probably—did not plan to have any more children were very satisfied with the results.
Also, according to New Scientist, the researchers emphasized the need for further investigation to address the treatment’s documented side effects, which included depression, mood disorders, muscle pain, acne, and increased libido.
These side effects led to 20 male participants discontinuing the trial. Furthermore, there was one reported case of depression, one intentional paracetamol overdose, and one instance of an irregular heart rate, all of which were considered potentially associated with the injection.
- Cotton seed disaster
There is a chemical element that naturally comes from the cotton plant and it is called gossypol. This chemical element came to be studied as a male birth control possibility when people realised that cooking meals in cotton seed oil lowers fertility in men.
Scientists in China began studying gossypol back in the 70s and the studies continued for a full decade. The gossypol study was last heard in the early 80s.
That was when the scientists were still trying to see how the male birth control would be reversible. But it turned out that this chemical element had some irreversible effects on the male participants.
Up to 20% of the participants could not get their fertility back, which is a really high number. Also, some side effects included extreme fatigue and paralysis. So, the idea of using gossypol as a male birth control was abandoned ever since.
As per WebMD, Gossypol is a pigment present in specific plants, notably the cotton plant, primarily found in its seeds, stem, and roots. It serves medicinal purposes and is known to disrupt sperm development and function.
Additionally, within the cotton plant, Gossypol functions as a natural defensive chemical, potentially causing infertility in insects.
- Vasalgel
Some people may have been familiar with the name Vasalgel. This was probably one of the more well-known male birth controls that had quite a high anticipation on it.
In fact, there was an almost successful human trial that saw how well Vasalgel worked in inhibiting male fertility.
Basically, the way Vasalgel worked was through binding sperm so that it does not go out of the body alongside the semen, which then allows men to ejaculate sperm-less semen. The application was quite easy, too, although it sounds a bit creepy: just an injection to the scrotum.
If you aren’t a big baby, you should be able to handle a second of sting to your scrotum.
Vasalgel was seen last in India when the developer of the birth control was trying to raise funds to make it available to the public. Since the company is a non-profit, they had a bit of trouble with funding a large-scale production.
- A pill that creates semen-less orgasm
Again, this idea came from the same developers as Vasalgel.
The idea first came in the 80s in India and is, in fact, very clever: a pill that can be taken just right before sex is initiated, and the pill will work to inhibit the tiny muscles in the male’s vas deferens, which then makes it impossible to ejaculate semen.
The developers promised that the sensations for orgasm would not be affected and that it would still feel the same—just without the ejaculate.
Some people really liked the idea for this pill because a semen-less ejaculate also means a lower chance of transmitting HIV to another person.
But, the problem with the development of this pill was again stalled because the company that was trying to develop it is a non-profit. They needed funding from pharma companies, but they did not seem to have taken much interest.
- The testosterone-lowering gel
There was a gel that was being developed that was said to be able to reduce sperm production by lowering testosterone levels in males.
The gel would be super inconvenient and require only daily application for it to continuously lower testosterone levels in men so that their testicles would finally stop the production of sperm cells.
The gel was called Nestorone-Testosterone and required some full decade to develop. You may be surprised to know that the gel was not even supposed to be slathered on your penis, rather your arms or shoulders.
As reported by BioSpace, Nestorone has the ultimate effect of suppressing testosterone and other gonadotropin hormones, including FSH and LH.
This suppression leads to a decrease in sperm production, causing a significant reduction in a man’s sperm count to levels below those required for contraception, typically falling below 1 million sperm per mL of semen.
A typical ‘normal’ sperm count is approximately 15 million sperm per mL of semen.
The trials or the product saw some promising results because the gel contained enough replacement testosterone to keep hormones in check.
The replacement testosterone would keep the male libido in check, but not enough to start sperm production. Bingo! But this product was last heard in 2018 and we don’t know what has become of it now.
In conclusion, we have discussed five male birth control methods that might never come to use by men. We hope that considering all the provided information, you can conclude whether the mentioned male birth controls are usable for men.
SIMILAR QUESTION
What Types Of Male Birth Control Are There?
Introduction
Male birth control is an important topic to consider, as it can help to reduce unplanned pregnancies and the need for abortions. Furthermore, male birth control can also help to reduce the burden of a woman’s contraception, allowing her to choose what type of birth control she wants to use. While female birth control has been around for many years, male birth control has only become available in the last few decades. This paper will discuss the various types of male birth control available today, their effectiveness, risks associated with them, and other considerations when choosing a method.
Types of Male Birth Control
There are various types of male birth control that can be used to prevent pregnancy. The most common type is a condom, which is a thin sheath that is worn over the penis during sexual intercourse. Condoms are the most widely available type of male birth control, and they are also the most effective when used correctly. Another type of male birth control is a vasectomy, which is a surgical procedure that involves cutting and sealing off the vas deferens, the tubes that carry sperm from the testicles. Vasectomies are considered permanent, and they are highly effective in preventing pregnancy.
Other types of male birth control include hormonal birth control, such as the male pill or the male patch. These work by using hormones to stop sperm production, and they are considered highly effective when used correctly. Additionally, there are also non-hormonal methods, such as the withdrawal method, where the man pulls out of the vagina before ejaculation, and the “natural” method, which involves abstaining from sexual intercourse during the most fertile days of a woman’s cycle.
Effectiveness of Male Birth Control
When used correctly, male birth control can be highly effective in preventing pregnancy. For example, condoms are 98 percent effective when used correctly, and vasectomies are 99.9 percent effective. Hormonal birth control methods, such as the male pill and male patch, are also highly effective. The withdrawal method is the least effective, as it is only 78 percent effective when used correctly.
Risks Associated with Male Birth Control
While male birth control methods are generally considered safe, there are some risks associated with them. For example, condoms can break, leading to an increased risk of sexually transmitted infections. Additionally, hormonal birth control methods can cause side effects such as headache, nausea, and changes in libido. Vasectomies can also lead to complications such as infection or bleeding during the procedure.
Other Considerations
When choosing a male birth control method, it is important to consider a number of factors. For example, some methods are more convenient than others, so it is important to think about which method is most suitable for the couple. Additionally, it is important to consider the cost of the method, as some methods may be more expensive than others. Lastly, it is important to discuss any potential risks and side effects with a doctor before choosing a method.
Conclusion
In conclusion, male birth control is an important topic to consider in order to reduce the risk of unplanned pregnancies and abortions. There are various types of male birth control available, including condoms, vasectomies, hormonal birth control, the withdrawal method, and the “natural” method. While male birth control is generally considered safe, there are some risks associated with them, so it is important to discuss any potential risks with a doctor before choosing a metho
