Birth control syringe (men)

The birth control syringe is a method of hormonal contraception for men. It aims to provide men with an effective, safe and reversible family planning tool. So far, there have only been studies on various processes that are not marketable. The birth control syringe for men is not to be confused with the three-month injection for women.

Two approaches have been taken in the past to develop a syringe for temporary infertility .

The first method is based on the eppin protein produced by the testes , which is located on the surface of the sperm . In tests, researchers succeeded in making male rhesus monkeys sterile for months with the active ingredient . The researchers got the animals' immune system to turn against a certain sperm substance. About 70% of the animals regained their fertility after discontinuing immunocontraception, the others remained permanently sterile. However, in June 2007, Bayer Schering Pharma was the last company working on it to discontinue research into the contraceptive product.

Between 2009 and 2011, conducted research World Health Organization on an on testosterone - substitution based methods. The body's own production of the hormone testosterone is brought to a standstill by external addition. This effect of injected testosterone can be intensified with the additional administration of a progestogen in the form of injections, tablets or implants. As a result, the production of sperm cells comes to a complete standstill and the desired infertility is achieved. In the test series, the treatment turned out to be almost free of side effects, apart from a reduced testicle size. After starting or stopping the additional hormone administration, it takes about 2–4 months until fertility is lost. An evaluation of studies with a total of 1,500 men showed that 90 percent of the men had normal semen production again within one year and all study participants within two years of the end of treatment.

The testosterone is administered to the patient in a dose of approx. 1000 mg every two months by syringe.

The market launch was originally planned for 2013. In July 2011, however, the WHO's research was discontinued because the contraceptive injection protected against unwanted pregnancy in only 90% of cases. The subjects in the test series also complained of serious side effects. In addition to acne and weight gain, some participants developed depression. The head of the study Michael Zitzmann, andrologist and endocrinologist at the Center for Reproductive Medicine of the University of Münster, canceled the study.

literature

• M. Zitzmann: Hormonal contraception in men: still relevant. In: The Urologist. 49 (2009), pp. 16-19.
• E. Nieschlag, HM Behre: Approaches to hormonal male contraception. In: E. Nieschlag, HM Behre: Andrology - Basics and clinic of reproductive health in men. 3. Edition. Springer-Verlag, Heidelberg 2009, pp. 595-606.

See also

• Pill for man
• Reversible inhibition of sperm under guidance

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Bayer stops research on "Pill for Men", Netzeitung, June 7, 2007 ( Memento of June 9, 2007 in the Internet Archive )
2. ↑ The "pill" for men. Interview with Prof. Michael Zittmann, Deutsche Welle June 22, 2009
3. ↑ Depression and obesity: study on birth control syringes for men canceled, brand post August 1, 2011 ( Memento from September 5, 2012 in the web archive archive.today )

This article is about a health issue. It is not used for self-diagnosis and does not replace a diagnosis by a doctor. Please note the information on health issues !