According to the Today show, a new type of male birth control injection has shown very promising results in a large study of over 1,000 healthy, fertile men. In fact, in current clinical studies, the male contraceptive injection has been shown to be 99% effective – roughly the same rate enjoyed by the majority of female hormonal birth control methods. The male contraceptive injection alters the male hormonal system to temporarily lower or completely stop sperm production while a man is using the shot. The good news is that these injections are completely reversible – research has shown that about 67% of the men tested had their sperm count rise to normal within six months (with nearly all the men reaching normal sperm within a year). Also, the shots appear to have no side effects.
The United Nations World Health Organization, the University of California, Los Angeles and the University of Sydney have all conducted trials to study the effects of these weekly testosterone injections on sperm production. They have found the use of steroid hormones called androgens, primarily responsible for controlling the development and maintenance of masculine characteristics, have also been shown to lower sperm count without any change in libido, potency, or the ability to get an erection and achieve orgasm.
With over 40% of U.S. women using some form of birth control, men may be able to join them in the near future. Sadly, though, in a survey of 100 male students at Youngstown State University, 97% said they have never even heard of male birth control research, and the other 3% said they know very little about it. Additionally, all 100 students surveyed said they would not use any form of male hormonal contraception.
Helen Axby is affiliated with the British Family Planning center while she also works very closely with the World Health Organization. Axby’s take on the survey, "the wait for a male contraceptive will not be as long as the wait for men to take responsibility for their own birth control."
My male readers - what are your thoughts? Post a comment – would you be willing to use a male contraceptive?
- Effectiveness of All Birth Control Methods
- More on Available Female Contraceptive Injections
- Depo Provera Birth Control Shot
Male Injection Photo Courtesy of Hans Neleman / Getty Images
Sure — it seems less aggressive than a vasectomy, and many men get those. College age men are not the most receptive audience for these treatments (although they may well be the target audience).
It sounds good to me. Just wish there was a little more info in the article. When will it be available to the general public? How often do you need the shots (1 week, 1 month, every 3 months?) There seem to be plenty of side effects for female oral contraception, are you really saying this drug has none?
In the past, I’ve had girlfriends lose their libido once they went on the pill. If this drug for men truly has comparable efficacy and lets women want sex more often then sign me up. lol
I think this sounds WONDERFUL! Is there any idea or prediction of when it migth come out??
I am not a fan of needles but if they came out with a patch version, that would be AWESOME.
I’m all for male contraception like this. Shots, implants, a pill, a patch. I’m not a fan of shots. If it’s not too often, say once every 2 months, count me in!! I could even get used to once a month.
I like it, but have they thought about the side effects it may have on your partner. Possibly if any discharge, or hormonal differences. And are the men in the study more prone to violent outrages or pent up aggression.
I would like to hear more about this.
im a 23 year old male and i am saying its about time, I’ve been waiting for some for of male birth control to hit the market. as soon as this is available to the public count me in on taking it.. though it might be after i have kids and am married but hopefully they get a move on it
So im guessing that the 100 guys that took this survey must of been virgins cuz i wud totally do it
I think it’s about time us men have the option of a birth control pill/shot. It’s a great idea and I can’t wait for it to be approved and on the market!
Not really into the idea of weekly injections, but that’s probably resolvable. Once it is, sign me up!
The 100 men who were aked are IDIOTS! Better protection, no need for condoms as a backup (assuming you’re manogamous, STD tested, ect), and no more having to worry that she’ll forget a day (or “forget” a day).
as a 17 year old guy how old will you have to be to get this shot my worst fear is for a unplanned pergnancy at this stage in life girls can get it at like 14 can we?
Joe, you shouldn’t be having sex if you don’t know the answer to that question.
The survey was obviously askew. The men who leave comments here wouldn’t be sample of the majority either, as you would find this article by looking for male birth control.
Sex feels better without condoms… who thinks for a second guys would not buy a product that makes sex feel better and eliminates the liability associated with your girlfriends unwanted maternal itch.
It’s a way for a guy to have complete control of when and who he spawns with. If you want to have kids eventually, such a control mechanism doesn’t currently exist.
Joe, as a 17 year old guy, you should know how to use punctuation.
EXCELLENT!!!!!!!!! how the hell could you not want to be on birth control. only an idiot would say no to something like this. HELLO it prevents pregnancy!!!! though you have to be careful because it make cause guys to want to have more sex with more partners and there would be a greater risk for STDs and there’s already a big enough risk as it is with having to worry about catching an STD.
i cant believe that all of the male students surveyed said they wouldnt use it. i think it is great.. not only do we have to prevent pregnancy, men do as well. it makes it seem like men don’t think they’re responsible for preventing pregnancy like we are. all they have to do is wear a condom, if they even want to do that..
That’s awesome! My girlfriend got pregnant while on the 3 month birth control shot. She told me that
no other form of birth control was needed. Now with a 6 month old boy in my life, I wouldn’t have changed a thing! This would have been a great back-
up method to have been able to use.
As a married 28 year old man I cannot wait till there is a a Male birth control option depo caused my wife to lose interest and we both hate condoms but do not want another child at the moment.
As a woman on the pill I find the idea of male birth control very good news, especially as I have breast cancer on both sides of my family and am worried about the long term effects of my pill. If my partner used male contraceptive it would mean I dont have to worry about taking it regularly, which would be a relief!
I completely agree with the other comments in that this is genius. there are millions of relationships where a guy doesn’t want to wear a condom, but the girl doesn’t want the depo or pill either. gotta get this out as soon as possible
From what I’ve found. You’d have to get a testosterone implant and a shot in the shoulder every 2 weeks. This sounds like a fantastic idea. Price is my only concern.
My boyfriend takes the shot every 3 months and the only change i see in him is he get these crazy mood swings that i can’t stand but beside that there’s no change in our sex lives…it probably even better now haha
This is also an excellent solution for when the girl is too prone to the side effects of female birth control (shot, pills)
Both of my parents abondonded me at birth, then came in and out of my life like revolving doors. From what I’v seen even many of the mothers who can’t afford kids, had them out of wedlock/unplanned or don’t know who the father is keep them around for a check or whatever but don’t take of them. A male can make more than 365 children a year a female can only make one. There all kinds of irreversable side effects associated with female contraception including death and sterilization. Of course these are all extreme non-fiction scenarios albeit excellent reasons for male birth control. Socially and economically it is radically less expensive than unwanted children or child support.
this is amazing i love this idea………..
can anyone tell me any places in texas doing these trials. Im wanting to get started as soon as possible. I just want to take the stress off my shoulder of getting a women pregnant.
im willing to drive/fly anywhere in north america for it. I dont care about side effects the mood swings cant be any worse then the swings i already have, i just dont want a baby any time soon, and the last girl i had intercourse with lied to me about being on the pill and i think shes trying to get pregnant and lie to me about it.
This is a reality that too many men suffer through, i want to be as responsible as possible but still have the freedom of sex without the worries of having a child.
im going to check this site again in a couple days, hopefully i can get some feedback of some offices or universities in texas doing these trials..thanks for the help!
I would just like to comment as a mom of a teenage son…I would love this because one I don’t think all the responsibility should be put on the girl and two it would give me peace of mind…
I think male birth control is great and all.. I do wonder how far they have took this study ? Do you know if there will be any problems in the future for when they do decided to have children?? Will there be possible birth defects? How long will it take before they will be able to have children and ext?
I am 20 and ill use it to save my girlfrend from the side effects and i also even the pill becuse i remember to take meds beter and side effects are scary for females