Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

This Rub-on Male Hormonal Contraceptive Is About to Be Tested on People
www.sciencealert.com ^ | 21 DEC 2017 | MIKE MCRAE

Posted on 12/21/2017 1:11:03 PM PST by Red Badger

It's a gel, but it doesn't go where you'd think.

If you're a sperm-producer who doesn't want kids, your personal contribution to contraception is currently limited to condoms or the snip.

Needless to say, not everybody likes those choices. But now a topical treatment could add another simple, non-invasive option to the mix - it's a hormonal gel that reduces sperm count when applied to the skin.

Next April, researchers at the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development are expecting to begin clinical trials on this gel, which has been in development for several years.

In 2012 the team conducted a trial on a combination of two gels that successfully saw the number of sperm in their semen drop to less than 1 million per millilitre – a concentration that's far enough below the normal 15 to 200 million sperm per millilitre to actually hamper fertility.

Applying two gels (it had to be done on two different body parts, too) would be quite a hassle though, so now researchers have finally combined the treatment into one easy-to-use application.

The gel is a combination of synthetic versions of the hormones progesterone and testosterone.

The progesterone analogue, called nestorone, competes with the body's testosterone levels, reducing them in the testes just enough to prevent mature sperm from being made. The added boost of testosterone helps keep hormones balanced throughout the rest of the body.

By rubbing half a teaspoon of the quick-drying liquid each day onto a body part, such as the upper arms or shoulders (away from the family jewels is probably best), sperm levels will be kept down for the next couple of days.

The study will take in a few hundred partnered test subjects scattered over the US, Chile, Europe, and Kenya, who are expected to use the treatment over four months while their sperm levels are monitored.

Once they get the thumbs up, the couples are invited to go off all other forms of birth control, meaning for the next year the only thing between the test subjects and parenthood is the gel.

"I am very confident that if men put the gel on every day and apply it correctly, it will be effective," Stephanie Page, principle investigator and a professor of medicine at the University of Washington told Emily Mullin at MIT Technology Review.

Another trial is currently underway to ensure any stray gel rubbing onto a partner isn't cause for alarm.

Male contraceptives have been on the horizon for a while now. But while a number of progressive men are keen to carry their share of responsibility, fanfare isn't as loud as we might expect and not all pharmaceutical companies are clamouring for a piece of the pie.

For one thing, a number of the treatments currently in the pipeline include injections of one sort or another. On paper, that shouldn't scare your average fully grown male, but in reality it may not have everybody rushing out for a shot.

Another hurdle could simply be that a number of men just don't care when it comes to birth control. Or don't make the connection between female contraception and not having a baby.

With potential roadblocks like these in the way, anything that makes the process of male contraception as simple and foolproof as possible is a worthy goal.

Given the nature of clinical trials, even with a best case scenario we shouldn't expect this gel to be available on the market just yet.

But if this treatment passes with flying colours and makes it through red tape and regulations, it would be a great addition to our currently limited contraception choices.


TOPICS: Health/Medicine; Religion; Science; Sports
KEYWORDS: males; testosterone
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-8081 next last

1 posted on 12/21/2017 1:11:03 PM PST by Red Badger
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

I can just see the Ambulance-chasing lawyer commercials all over TV in a decade or two: Did you use this gel to lower the risk of pregnancy and your penis fell off? Call us today, you may be entitled to a big settlement!


2 posted on 12/21/2017 1:14:06 PM PST by TheBattman (Voting for lesser evils still gets you evil...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

By the time I get it rubbed on, I won’t need to have sex


3 posted on 12/21/2017 1:15:37 PM PST by AppyPappy (Don't mistake your dorm political discussions with the desires of the nation)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

Oh. Another medical procedure to make a healthy system unhealthy.

Hippocrates weeps. First do no harm died with the Pill and abortion.

Men rise up. Pun intended.


4 posted on 12/21/2017 1:16:11 PM PST by amihow
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: AppyPappy

5 posted on 12/21/2017 1:16:39 PM PST by dfwgator
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

Great. More “free” contraceptives that we will have to buy for a whole new category of people.


6 posted on 12/21/2017 1:16:41 PM PST by NEMDF
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

It only takes one. Reducing the count does not seem a good method.


7 posted on 12/21/2017 1:18:47 PM PST by Ingtar
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

This stuff really works. They’ve been testing it in millenials for a decade. Totally eliminates testesterone and drops your sperm count.


8 posted on 12/21/2017 1:18:49 PM PST by BlueMondaySkipper (Involuntarily subsidizing the parasite class since 1981)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

What could possibly go wrong?


9 posted on 12/21/2017 1:19:23 PM PST by JayGalt (Let Trump Be Trump)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: JayGalt

10 posted on 12/21/2017 1:20:45 PM PST by bar sin·is·ter (Climate Scientology - another example of science fiction morphing into a religious cult)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

Ummmm ...

No.


11 posted on 12/21/2017 1:21:02 PM PST by NorthMountain (... the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

It works great. It’s been field tested on Senate Republicans for years.


12 posted on 12/21/2017 1:21:31 PM PST by mkmensinger
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: AppyPappy

ROFLMAO!!!!!!!! I was thinking the same thing.


13 posted on 12/21/2017 1:23:10 PM PST by dp0622 (The Left should know that if Trump is kicked out of office, it is WAR!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: amihow

What could go wrong?


14 posted on 12/21/2017 1:23:40 PM PST by dp0622 (The Left should know that if Trump is kicked out of office, it is WAR!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

Contains pure Capsaicin


15 posted on 12/21/2017 1:23:48 PM PST by tired&retired (Blessings)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: bar sin·is·ter

LOL!!! This is gonna be a great thread :)


16 posted on 12/21/2017 1:24:00 PM PST by dp0622 (The Left should know that if Trump is kicked out of office, it is WAR!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: mkmensinger

lol


17 posted on 12/21/2017 1:24:17 PM PST by dp0622 (The Left should know that if Trump is kicked out of office, it is WAR!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger
Here is a male contraceptive you drink


18 posted on 12/21/2017 1:24:20 PM PST by GraceG ("It's better to have all the Right Enemies, than it is to have all the Wrong Friends.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

Only a cuckold would accept this.

What sort of man would willingly agreee to reduce his God - given potency ?


19 posted on 12/21/2017 1:26:09 PM PST by WashingtonFire (President Trump - it's like having your dad as President !)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

Speaking Klingon or carry around your Star Wars light saber works just as well.


20 posted on 12/21/2017 1:26:26 PM PST by Stevenc131
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-8081 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson