New contraceptive gel for men only needs to be applied to the arms and shoulders

Will there soon be a contraceptive gel for men?

In many countries, the prevention of unwanted pregnancies is usually a task for women. For example, the intake of the so-called anti-baby pill is widespread. However, this form of contraception can lead to various severe side effects in women. Physicians have been looking for ways longer, so that men can also prevent simple and reliable. Now, a contraceptive gel has been developed that men only need to apply to their arms and shoulders.

Gel is absorbed by arms and shoulders

The study will initially be conducted in Seattle, Los Angeles and Kansas City and later includes locations in Chile, England, Italy, Kenya, Scotland and Sweden, the scientists explain. So the safety and effectiveness of the gel should be determined. The gel consists of Nestorone® (Segesterone Acetate), a progestin hormone used to treat women, and testosterone. The product, called NES / T, is a novel, reversible male contraceptive that is absorbed through the skin on the upper arms and shoulders.

Want to prevent men at all?

"The potential of this new gel is enormous," said Professor William Bremner of the University of Washington's School of Medicine in a press release. "There is a misconception that men are not interested in or even fear tools to control their own fertility. We know that this is not the case, "adds the physician. Earlier multinational surveys have shown that more than half of men say they are using a male contraceptive if it is reversible and uncomplicated. "We hope that the results of this study will pave the way for new interest in the development of contraception for men and will drive this important work in the field of public health," says Professor. Stephanie Page from the University of Washington's School of Medicine in the same press release.

40 percent of all pregnancies are unplanned

Worldwide, around 85 million pregnancies (40 percent of all pregnancies) per year are not planned, which contributes to an increased incidence of adverse health outcomes for women and infants. Apart from condom use and vasectomy, men have no further contraceptive options.

Gel is applied once a day

Expanding male contraception could help make family planning a shared responsibility between women and men. Safe, effective and reversible tools for men to control their own fertility give the term family planning a new meaning. The product has been developed for more than a decade and is now being tested on couples. The gel is used by the men once a day. Once the man's sperm count has reached a suitable level to prevent pregnancy, a process that is likely to take eight to 16 weeks, the couple is informed that the gel should be used as the only contraceptive method for one year. Sex drive or the lust of men should remain unimpaired, explain the scientists.

What does the success of such a contraceptive gel depend on??

"The success of a reversible male contraceptive requires an approach that reduces the production of sperm without affecting a man's testosterone levels or the ability to produce semen at a later date," says study leader Christina Wang of the Los Angeles Biomedical Research institutions. The challenge is to get the right combination of Nestorone and testosterone at the right time, adds the expert. (As)