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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
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To: HombreSecreto

The thought of Rosie O is enough to cause erectile dysfunction.

A picture would cause your testicles to suck up into your belly and your Johnson to permanently die...maybe even fall off.


61 posted on 12/21/2017 2:25:10 PM PST by oldvirginian (Happy Holidays my chapped buttocks. I'm going to Merry Christmas the hell out of everyone i meet!)
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To: Red Badger

Just put a rock in your shoe...


62 posted on 12/21/2017 2:26:06 PM PST by gov_bean_ counter (I would rather be deplorable than detestable.)
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To: cherry

Or Snip - snip...................


63 posted on 12/21/2017 2:27:36 PM PST by Red Badger (Road Rage lasts 5 minutes. Road Rash lasts 5 months!.....................)
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To: AppyPappy
LOL!!

I knew how this post was going to go.....

And how quick it did!!!

64 posted on 12/21/2017 2:30:34 PM PST by Osage Orange (Watch your six.)
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To: dp0622

TBTG. Whew. Thanks.


65 posted on 12/21/2017 2:34:26 PM PST by amihow
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To: amihow

I had to look up TBTG on Wikipedia lol

Last week my sister said LMK at the end of an email.

It took me 20 minutes to figure out it meant let me know :)


66 posted on 12/21/2017 2:37:05 PM PST by dp0622 (The Left should know that if Trump is kicked out of office, it is WAR!)
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To: HombreSecreto; bar sin·is·ter
Won’t a picture of Rosie O’Donnell do the same thing?

Yes but when one sees this:

Is it really that hard to imagine that her palms resemble this?

FReegards!

Image and video hosting by TinyPic Image and video hosting by TinyPic

67 posted on 12/21/2017 2:38:45 PM PST by Agamemnon (Darwinism is the glue that holds liberalism together)
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To: Red Badger

68 posted on 12/21/2017 2:42:09 PM PST by Tijeras_Slim
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To: Osage Orange

Quickly


69 posted on 12/21/2017 2:45:25 PM PST by AppyPappy (Don't mistake your dorm political discussions with the desires of the nation)
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To: Red Badger

Capsaicin is cheap and ought to do the trick!


70 posted on 12/21/2017 2:52:17 PM PST by Reily
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To: Red Badger

Putting a synthetic pregnancy hormone in a man’s body. What could possibly go wrong ... ??


71 posted on 12/21/2017 2:55:18 PM PST by Campion (Halten Sie sich unbedingt an die Lehre!)
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To: Red Badger

“it’s a hormonal gel that reduces sperm count when applied to the skin.”

Oh it reduces it? That’s comforting. How many does it take?


72 posted on 12/21/2017 3:00:31 PM PST by Bonemaker
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To: Red Badger

Is it more effective than the old line of don’t worry I smoke Marlboros? :-)


73 posted on 12/21/2017 3:31:44 PM PST by Georgia Girl 2 (The only purpose of a pistol is to fight your way back to the rifle you should never have dropped)
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To: Red Badger

What effects does it have on women who come in contact with it. Messing around with hormones is bad business.


74 posted on 12/21/2017 4:26:38 PM PST by fella ("As it wshas before Noah so shall it be again,")
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To: Red Badger

Stupid, stupid, stupid.

That’s all I got to say about that.


75 posted on 12/21/2017 4:49:00 PM PST by logi_cal869 (-cynicus-)
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To: dp0622

LOL back. Glad you told me what LMK meant. Was fteaking until got to explanation.


76 posted on 12/21/2017 4:50:00 PM PST by amihow
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To: BlueMondaySkipper

Then why are there so many millennial spawn???
/s


77 posted on 12/21/2017 4:50:11 PM PST by logi_cal869 (-cynicus-)
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To: GraceG

Got that right.


78 posted on 12/21/2017 4:51:39 PM PST by logi_cal869 (-cynicus-)
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To: WashingtonFire
What sort of man would willingly agreee to reduce his God - given potency ?

You mean besides Mitch, Paul, Jeb, and the entire staff of NRO ?

79 posted on 12/21/2017 8:18:02 PM PST by grey_whiskers (The opinions are solely those of the author and are subject to change without notice.)
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To: dfwgator

I came here solely for the reference to Stve Martin’s Penis Crème, and you did not disappoint!

“Apply for between 3 and 30 minutes...”.


80 posted on 12/22/2017 9:43:58 AM PST by T-Bone Texan
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