Male contraception today

The current and potential role of males in family planning is often underestimated. The use of female contraceptive methods tends to require more outside assistance than the use of male methods; therefore, the role of males is less visible and harder to document. Furthermore, males often exert considerable influence over their wives' contraceptive choices but this influence is exerted in the privacy of the home rather than in clinical settings. The value of condoms and of male sterilization procedures is also underrated. The condom is effective, is not associated with negative side effects, and is easy to distribute and to use. In addition, it provides protection from sexually transmitted diseases. Its use should be encouraged. Vasectomies, compared to female sterilization procedures, are simpler to perform and are associated with fewer complications. Efforts to simplify vasectomies even further are also being made. Investigators are currently attempting to occlude the vas by injecting a mixture of alcohol and formaldehyde through the skin. Other investigators continue their efforts to develop a male contraceptive pill; however, since males produce new sperm throughout their reproductive life span, it is more difficult to induce infertility in men than in women. The use of drugs to inhibit sperm production may also induce sperm maturations. Clinical trials of alpha chlorhydrin, which interferes with the sperm maturation process have been conducted, and in 1978 the Chinese began to use gossypol to suppress sperm production. Most of the male contraceptive agents currently being investigated offer little promise and it may be at least 10 years before an effective male pill is produced.