New contraceptive options for men could be on the market within the next few years, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Several hormonal and non-hormonal methods are already being tested in clinical trials, with the WHO now setting out what it wants future products to look like.
Here’s what you need to know.
What’s happened
Last week, the WHO released its first Target Product Profiles for male contraceptives.
They work like a checklist for developers, setting out the baseline and ideal standards a medication needs to meet.
The WHO said several hormonal and non-hormonal contraceptives for men are in advanced clinical trials.
It said new reversible male contraceptives “may be in the market within the next 5-10 years”.
About 48% of pregnancies worldwide are unplanned, and 60% of these unplanned pregnancies are terminated, according to the WHO.
The WHO says more contraceptive options, and better access to them, would help bring these numbers down.
About 30% of couples already rely on a male method of contraception, largely condoms.
Current options
Right now, men have two main options: condoms and vasectomies.
One advanced option currently being developed is NES/T, a hormonal gel applied daily to the shoulders and upper arms.
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It stops sperm production without affecting testosterone levels.
Another option being trialled is an injectable hydrogel that blocks sperm from travelling.
There’s also YCT-529, the first non-hormonal daily pill for men, which is currently in clinical trials.
Delays
Male contraception has been talked about for decades, but progress has been slow.
Part of the problem is biology.
Female birth control only has to stop one egg a month.
A male contraceptive has to stop about 1,000 sperm being made every second.
Other hurdles in previous trials have included side effects, with participants in a 2016 trial of a male hormonal injection reporting acne, weight gain, and impacted mood.
Do men want it?
Research suggests they do.
A recent survey by the WHO of more than 12,000 men and 9,000 women in six low- and middle-income countries found 61% of men would try a new male contraceptive within a year of it becoming available.
The men said they’d prefer a daily gel, patch or pill over injections or implants.
A separate WHO survey found more than 85% of women would trust their male partner to use one consistently.
