Australian Scientists Develop Contraceptive Jab for Men

The newly developed contraceptive jab for men has been proved to be just as effective as birth-control pills for women by scientists.

The injection, which has been developed by Australian researchers and is to taken four times a year, is a quick and reliable method of contraception for up to 95 per cent of males, say Sydney researchers.

Until now, the only effective non-barrier contraceptive for men was a vasectomy, meaning that women tended to take on the responsibility.

But, now there is an alternative - but pharmaceutical companies have shown little interest in making it available to the public.

The new jab works by suppressing sperm output but does not have a permanent effect.

Made up of a combination of the hormones androgen and progestin - mostly testosterone - it needs to be administered every two to three months.

In the study, which was conducted by researchers from the ANZAC Research Institute, University of Sydney and Concord Hospital reviewed 1756 men aged 18 to 51.

From the analysis the research team found that the combined jab was quicker and more effective than an androgen-only version.

Associate Professor Peter Liu, co-author of the integrated analysis study, said he was disappointed pharmaceutical companies had pulled out of the project to develop a commercially available male contraceptive jab.

"I think there’s a real need for it because I see a lot of couples where a female doesn’t want to use or is intolerant to a female contraceptive pill or males who want to delay vasectomy," News.com.au quoted Liu, as saying.

"There are also couples who say it’s not fair, why should (birth control) be up to the female? I hear that from both partners," he added.

The study is published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, and Medical Observer magazine.

Source-ANI
SRM/L