The road to hormonal male contraception: End in sight?

Abstract

The concept of a hormonal approach that sufficiently and reversibly suppresses spermatogenesis to the level required for effective contraception has been developed and tested over several decades. The reality of achieving this has been confirmed using both testosterone alone and combination methods using a progestogen with a physiological dose of testosterone, necessary to replace the lack of endogenous testosterone production by the suppressed testes. A range of both long-acting and self-administered combination methods are effective, including injection, implant and gel methods of administration, with up to 95% of men achieving sufficient spermatogenic suppression. New steroids are also being trialled. Surveys show the widespread willingness of men and their female partners to use novel male methods, suggesting the potential of this approach to contribute to global family planning and sustainable development goals. This approach to contraception can clearly be effective, and needs to move from relatively small scale testing to large scale pre-marketing trials: only then can information about long-term safety and real-world acceptability be obtained.

Keywords: Acceptability; Contraception; Male methods; Spermatogenesis; Testosterone.