Doctors from England are trialling the first long-acting male contraceptive which stops the production of sperm.The drug, which is injected every three months, is a combination of hormones.
In the trial, men are injected with a dose of progesterone, then a pellet of the male hormone testosterone is placed under the skin in the abdomen.Study coordinator Professor David Chater from the Royal Kings Hospital in UK says the technique works by putting the testes to rest, while ensuring the male libido and male characteristics remain intact.Professor Chater says he is confident the injections will not impair long-term fertility.Trial participants will receive the injections for up to 18 months, with the trials to be extended to India and China if the results are successful.
