A New Contraceptive For Men

Forget condoms and vasectomies. A new contraceptive for men could just change the way we practise family planning

- Basil Sim

ON 25 MARCH 2019, Time magazine published an article about a new male birth control method that’s currently in the pipeline. According to research presented by the Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute and the University of Washington, the new pill-based contraceptive has passed initial human safety tests. During clinical trials, it altered test subjects’ hormone levels to drastically reduce their sperm production – with negligible impacts on libido – thus effectively acting as a birth control method. Although minor side effects such as fatigue and acne were reported, none of the men in the test opted to stop taking the pill, which points to its efficacy. Should research and development go as planned, the as yet unnamed pill could be lining store shelves in a decade.

Supply And Demand

Such groundbreaking advancements could revolutionalise the way couples practise safe sex and approach family planning. However, after decades with currently available methods, one can’t help but think if such developments are offering solutions to problems that no longer exist.

According to Dr Julian Ng from Dr Tan and Partners, a men’s health clinic, patients who enquire about contraceptives are mostly already considering permanent options. “We do have a few enquiries about male contraceptives, but most of the time, men are asking for procedures such as the vasectomy,” he said.

Outside of Singapore, however, views may be starting to change when it comes to birth control methods. When asked about the potential demand for the new contraceptive method, Dr Ng felt that the development would find favour with many people.

“Surveys done in the United Kingdom and the United States have shown that 70 to 80 per cent of male respondents do actually welcome the opportunity to share the responsibility of preventing unwanted pregnancies,” he said.