For decades now, women have had access to a wide variety of birth control. From the diaphragm invented in the 1800s, to the Pill that revolutionised the 50s, and more recent methods like the patch, vaginal ring and implant – being able to choose if, and when, to have a baby has been made so much easier.
However, even with the many options available, there is still one significant problem with contraception as we currently know it; the burden falls mainly on women. This can be attributed to the fact that there aren’t as many contraception methods that have been developed specifically for men, who are faced with either using condoms or having vasectomies – which can’t always be reversed.
The good news about male birth control…
But this isn’t to say that medical science isn’t trying to tackle the issue; there have been various studies in the attempt to give men more ways of preventing unwanted pregnancies. Most recently, research co-sponsored by the United Nations and conducted by CONRAD (Contraception Research and Development), Eastern Virginia Medical School in the US found a male hormonal birth control shot given every eight weeks to be 96% effective.
Published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, the study involved men aged 18-45, and their female partners aged 18-38, all of who did not have any known fertility issues. Participants were based in Australia, Chile, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy and the UK. Over a period of a year, only 4 pregnancies occurred amongst 266 couples that took part.
"The study found it is possible to have a hormonal contraceptive for men that reduces the risk of unplanned pregnancies in the partners of men who use it," said researcher Dr Mario Philip Reyes Festin to ScienceDaily. "Our findings confirmed the efficacy of this contraceptive method previously seen in small studies," he added.
…And the bad news
Unfortunately, although the study showed very positive results, it was stopped because of the research review panel’s concern over side effects experienced by the male participants. And while many women will argue that they are similarly inconvenienced by their birth control (as evidenced by the heated debate that was sparked online when the study was first reported), the frequency of side effects in this study was quite high when compared to research on women’s contraception, report the experts.
For example, research on depression and female hormonal contraception published in the Journal of the American Medical Association Psychiatry found that only 2% of the participants experienced depression. In contrast, 16.9% men in the CONRAD study reported emotional disorders that included depression. Other reported side-effects included acne (45%), increased libidos (38%), pain on the injection site (23.1%), and muscle pain (16.3%).
The CONRAD researchers were also concerned that the male birth control might have long-term effects on fertility. Eight participants had not regained their fertility a year after the study was completed, and four years later one man was still only partially fertile. "Although the injections were effective in reducing the rate of pregnancy, the combination of hormones needs to be studied more to consider a good balance between efficacy and safety," explained Dr Festin.
But despite all these drawbacks, more than 75% of the participants (including their partners) said they would still want use the contraceptive based on its effectiveness, encouraging the researchers who see the positive feedback as strong grounds for continued research in the area.
Speak to your Clicks Clinic nurse about contraception
Clicks Clinics offer family planning that include:
- Consultations and injections: contraception, cycles, hormonal and fertility
- Contraceptive and fertility injections administered as per your doctor's prescription (dependent on stock availability)
Book an appointment at your nearest Clicks Clinic. Alternatively, call 0860 254 257 or +27 21 460 1009 (outside South Africa).
Shop online at Clicks.co.za for condoms
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