HEALTH SERVICES

Future birth control for men

Developing effective contraceptive methods for men without permanently impairing their fertility has proved to be very difficult, but progress is being made.

These methods are currently being tested and may be available in the future:

Potential oral contraception
Oral contraception for men reduces sperm counts to levels too low to cause pregnancy. In Italy, a contraceptive pill containing synthetic hormones is being used by men in a clinical study. The men also receive testosterone injections to boost the effectiveness of the pill.

Potential injections, implants, and vaccines
Studies show greatly reduced sperm counts in men injected weekly or even monthly with a combination of synthetic hormones.

Subdermal implants
Two rods are inserted under the skin, each releasing hormones that lower sperm count.

Battery-powered capsules
Capsules implanted into each vas deferens emit low-level electrical currents that immobilizes sperm as they flow by.