Why does male contraception still lag so far behind?
Contraceptive choice forms part of one’s reproductive agency. A safe male pill or long-acting reversible method would add, not subtract, choices. Giving both partners independent preventive options could reduce unintended pregnancies and spread responsibility more evenly
Male contraception has lagged far behind female contraception in terms of the range of available methods. While women have access to various reversible and permanent options, including pills, injections, implants, intrauterine devices and sterilisation, men primarily rely on condoms for reversible contraception and vasectomy for permanent contraception.
The biology, anatomy and mechanics of preventing conception create distinct challenges for men. The condom, the only widely used reversible male contraceptive, has a history of 3,000 years but still depends on correct use every time. Its advantages include reducing sexually transmitted infections, but its failure rate is higher than female methods.
Permanent vasectomy, while simpler than female sterilisation, remains underutilised due to fears, misconceptions, social expectations and evolving family-planning services. The continuous production of millions of sperm daily by men's testes presents unique obstacles for a male equivalent of the pill, requiring suppression of sperm production to zero and allowing fertility to return instantly.
Researchers are exploring various approaches, such as hormonal and non-hormonal drugs, mechanical methods, and injectable polymers or hydrogels, to overcome these challenges and develop a viable male contraceptive.
Written by urgent.news from The Hindu Health's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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- Why does male contraception still lag so far behind? thehindu.com
