Hormonal contraception, family planning New Options For Men

During this contraceptive for men is known to use condoms, vasectomy and most recently by ultrasound. As a new choice, researchers are developing male hormonal contraception for family planning.

Researchers are making progress on the study of hormonal contraceptive for men, namely a gel or an injection of testosterone. But scientists alerts that this product still in research stage and not yet commercially available.

"Research on contraception for men is slow for several reasons, including biological differences between men and women," says John Amory, associate professor of medicine at the University of Washington, as reported from MedicalNewsToday, Wednesday (16/06/2010).

Amory said, the woman has not fertile period in his life, which at the time of menstruation, and this allows her to not get pregnant. But men do not have a menstrual period, such as in women.

In addition, male reproductive system capable of producing 1,000 sperm per second, while women make only one egg per month.

According to Diana Blithe, director of male contraceptive development program at the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, this study focused on blocking the production of sperm with the use of testosterone is known to cause sterility when in excess amount.

However, Blithe also said that other studies have examined the use of synthetic hormone progestin, which has been used in female contraceptives.

For now, the male testosterone pills have not been successful working as a contraceptive because the body absorbs the hormone before it can inhibit sperm production. But researchers have had some success with hormone injections or topical.

For example, a Chinese study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism in June 2009, found that injection of testosterone produce pregnancy rate 1.1 per 1,000 men in more than two years.