Scientists inch closer to ‘male pill’

Previous attempts to develop an effective and convenient male contraceptive have encountered problems over reliability and side-effects,such as mood swings and a lowered sex drive.

The study,which will appear in the June issue of the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism,was backed by the World Health Organisation.

Researchers were able to achieve a 99 per cent success rate by injecting men with testosterone in a trial that they claim is the largest so far conducted anywhere in the world.

The latest research,conducted at the National Research for Family Planning in Beijing,injected 1,000 healthy,fertile male patients with a testosterone-based jab over a two-year period and found only 1 per cent went on to father a child,The Independent newspaper reported on Tuesday.

“For couples who cannot or prefer not to use only female-oriented contraception,options have been limited to vasectomy,condom and withdrawal,” said Dr Yi-Qun Gu,the lead researcher.

“Our study shows a male hormonal contraceptive regime may be a potential,novel and workable alternative,” he was quoted as saying by the British daily.

The testosterone injection,which could be on the market in five years,was tested on a group of healthy fertile men aged 20 to 45,each of whom had fathered at least one child in the previous two years.

With no side-effects detected,the scientists claim the process is reversible. Six months after coming off the injections,the men’s sperm count had returned to healthy levels. Dr Gu said further testing would be needed to check how safe testosterone injections are.

“Despite the present encouraging results,the long-term safety of this hormonal male contraceptive regimen requires more extensive testing with a focus on cardiovascular,prostate and behavioural safety,” he said.

Earlier this year scientists said that they were a step closer to developing a male pill after they identified a rare defective gene which can cause infertility.