Antibaby syringe stopped for the man

According to a WHO study, anti-sperm injection for the man has failed for the time being

01/08/2011

For decades scientists have been researching the birth control syringe for men. However, the previously tested procedures always proved to be too uncertain or too risky due to the threat of side effects. For example, a large-scale study by the World Health Organization (WHO) was last stopped in March, as around ten percent of the test subjects did not tolerate the testosterone injection.

The 2009 study on the efficacy of the birth control contraceptive for men with 400 participants from eight countries had to be stopped in March, as every tenth subject suffered from significant side effects such as depression, acne or massive weight gain. Study director Professor Michael Zitzmann, andrologist and endocrinologist at the Center for Reproductive Medicine of the University of Münster, explained that the anti-baby syringe „in the current composition does not work.“ For over 30 years, scientists have been looking for such a method of contraception for the man and although it has been repeatedly reported successes with the anti-spunk syringe, so far none of the preparations has reached the market.

Side effects of the Antibaby syringe too serious
In the WHO study, the 400 subjects were given an anti-binge injection every eight weeks based on active ingredients already approved for the treatment of other conditions in order to avoid lengthy approval procedures. Testosterone syringes have been successfully tested in several smaller national studies and should prove their effectiveness in the WHO study, which started in 2009. However, there were unexpectedly often significant side effects, so that the investigation had to be stopped in March this year, study director Professor Michael Zitzmann reported to the news agency „dpa“. The contraceptive syringe in the current composition does not work, so the conclusion of the expert. Although the syringe had the desired effects in 90 percent of men, but ten percent suffered from significant side effects. „That's just too much“, stressed Professor Michael Zitzmann. According to the study leader, older study participants, in particular, have developed side effects such as acne, depression, significant weight gain and increased libido. The massive side effects were particularly surprising for the scientists, as the previous national studies had not yielded any relevant evidence.

Previous approach of the anti-baby syringe does not work
The 400 participants in the WHO study were between the ages of 18 and 45, living in a solid partnership and their partners agreed to the test. By administering the testosterone syringes every eight weeks, the testes ceased production of the body's own testosterone and, subsequently, no spermatozoa were actually produced, the researchers report. Nevertheless, be „the expectations have not been fulfilled,“ said the study leader at the Halle site, where 43 men were involved in the WHO study. „Although nine out of ten men have tolerated the injection in Halle, the overall proportion of intolerance is too high,“ emphasized Hermann Behre, Director of the Center for Reproductive Medicine and Andrology of the University Hospital Halle. The study was therefore discontinued and the subjects are currently in follow-up and recovery, said the study director in Halle. Although the final report of the study will be available in October, „but we can already assume that it does not work in this form“, Hermann Behre continues.

Market opportunities continue for the birth control syringe?
The researchers' initial optimism has been severely dampened by the end of the WHO study. Professor Zitzmann emphasized, „we have to start from scratch, the result is open.“ However, a timely launch of the anti-spunk syringe is not to be expected in any case. Nevertheless, Hermann Behre still sees great opportunities for the anti-baby injection. „We are closer to a success than some believe,“ explained the study director at the Halle site. Behre relies on the pure testosterone syringe instead of a combination of already known active ingredients. „In China, such a testosterone syringe was successfully tested on more than 1,000 men. The results are available since 2009“, stressed Behre. The market potential continues to exist, with „the anti-spunk syringe for the man does not displace or replace the pill for the woman“ should. Rather, the injection offers couples the opportunity to share responsibility for contraception. Although other methods of contraception are out of the question for health reasons, such an antibiotic syringe offers a good alternative, the expert explained.

Pharmaceutical industry skeptical of new contraceptives for men
In the pharmaceutical industry, however, the market chances of the anti-baby syringe for the man appear to be rather skeptical. Thus, the research project was based on a hormone injection and an implant immediately after the acquisition of Schering AG by Bayer AG in 2007 set and Friederike Lorenzen of today's Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals of Bayer Pharma AG (Berlin) told the news agency „dpa“: „There are no market opportunities for this in the next ten to fifteen years.“ The 43 pharmaceutical companies organized in the Association of Research-Based Pharmaceutical Companies (Berlin) also claim to have no further research on such a male contraceptive. The early end of the WHO study on the impact and risk of male birth control should have further worsened the prospects for private research in this area.

Natural contraceptive methods without side effects sought
Since all substances previously considered as anti-spunk syringe similar to the contraceptive pill represent a significant intervention in the hormone balance, is generally expected side effects. However, these were always so pronounced in the previous studies that a market introduction of the anti-baby syringe was excluded. However, the question arises anyway, of alternative contraceptive methods that do not cause any comparable side effects. As an alternative to naturopathy base, which ensures a relatively high contraceptive, comes here, for example, the Mexican Wild Yam (in German: the Mexican wild yam) into consideration, which has already played an essential role in the invention of birth control pills. Mexican Wild Yam has been used in the healing arts of Mexican primitive peoples for generations for the treatment of various symptoms as well as contraception. (Fp)

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Image: Thomas Meinert, pixelio.de