Medical trial - Male contraceptive injection that's 'more effective than condoms'
Last updated 21/10/2009 11:39:15
Male contraceptive injection trial
University researchers are running a trial to test a male contraceptive injection - and say it is more effective than a condom in preventing pregnancy.
Couples in Scotland are being sought by the University of Edinburgh for the trial, which involves 400 couples at 10 centres in Europe, Asia, South America and Australia.
The male contraceptive injection lasts for two months and consists of the hormones testosterone and progesterone, leading to a drop in sperm count.
Professor Richard Anderson explained: "Initial findings have shown a male contraceptive injection to be very effective but this larger study is needed to add to the evidence as to how good these longer-acting injections are, and what couples think about it.
"If this trial is successful, I imagine there would be interest in looking at marketing the injection as a male contraceptive. Even if not all men would be keen on an injection, there would definitely be a market to make such a treatment viable."
Researchers are looking at recruiting around 20 couples in south-east Scotland for the study, which is run by the World Health Organisation. Men should be under the age of 45 and their female partners are under the age of 37 years.
The women should have regular menstrual cycles and no medical reason not to become pregnant. The injections have been shown to reduce a man's sperm count down from above 20 million sperm per millilitre to zero in most men, and to less than one million in others.
The university said it provided much better protection against pregnancy than condoms, and similar protection to the female pill. Importantly, it is also fully reversible.
Couples interested in taking part in the study should contact Dr. Jyothis George by emailing j.george@hrsu.mrc.ac.uk
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