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Couples are being recruited to participate in an innovative trial of a male contraceptive gel that could allow men and women to badume the same responsibility for birth control at the same time. 39; future.
Eighty men in Manchester and Edinburgh will have to use a daily gel containing "sleep-proof" hormones, which means the sperm count drops to zero.
Couples will rely on the gel as the only contraceptive for a year as part of a clinical trial to evaluate its effectiveness in preventing pregnancy and to determine if side effects are acceptable.
Richard Anderson, professor of clinical reproductive science at the University of Edinburgh, who is leading the study, said the method should be more effective than condoms, which under real-life conditions are effective at about 82%. "We aim to reach the level of success of the pill, namely a very low but not zero failure rate," he said.
The gel, called NES / T, is a hormone-based treatment designed to reduce sperm production without affecting libido and works very similarly to the women's pill. It contains a progestin, which acts on the pituitary gland of the brain to stop sperm production. The gel also contains testosterone to compensate for a drop in the male hormone caused by a progestin, which might otherwise cause unpleasant side effects.
One of the reasons why looking for a male pill has proven so difficult is that hormones are rapidly metabolized by the liver. A gel bypbades this because it is directly absorbed by the skin into the bloodstream.
Men will receive the gel in a small pot, which includes a pump to administer a given dose. The gel is rubbed daily on the shoulders and upper arms and men will visit monthly clinics to monitor the sperm count.
Once a man's sperm count is almost zero, which should take a few months, couples will use the gel as their sole contraceptive and will be followed for more than a year.
According to scientists, there is considerable demand for new forms of contraception. "I do not think it will replace the key female methods, but there is certainly a demand for an alternative," he said. "Many women do not want to take the pill, some have migraines or gain weight. Couples quickly go through the options.
Previously, the Anderson team led the trial of a male contraceptive injection, based on a similar hormonal approach, which was almost as effective as the women's pill. The World Health Organization terminated the trial early because of its side effects, including acne and increased libido. But Anderson said that very few men withdrew from the lawsuit and three quarters said they would choose to continue using the jabs if the option was given to them.
Any hormonal contraceptive method is likely to have side effects, as with female contraceptives, he said. "It's the real world of contraception."
If the trials are conclusive, researchers have an interest in developing the gel as a commercial product. Although contraceptive gels are not available, testosterone gel is already widely used in the United States as a male hormone replacement product.
Men between the ages of 18 and 50 who have a stable relationship with a woman aged 18 to 34 are invited to participate in the trial by calling 0161 276 3296 (Manchester) or 0131 242 2669 (Edinburgh). "Anyone who is interested, we will be happy to hear them right away," said Anderson.
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