Project Summary: Male Contraceptive Research
Despite the availability of a number of female contraceptives, the unintended pregnancy rate is significant. The need and demand for new male contraceptive options has grown, and researchers have been developing various methods beyond vasectomy and condoms. This site provides resources so that you can keep up on the latest information on male contraceptive development and how you can make the most informed decisions about reproduction.
- An estimated 85 million unintended pregnancies occur annually worldwide, with 50% ending in abortion and 13% in miscarriage.
- Male and female contraceptive methods are often used inconsistently or discontinued, accounting for 33 million of the unintended pregnancies worldwide.
- The demand for new male contraceptives has grown over the years, and is in high demand in the U.S. after recent restrictions on abortion access.
- Few male contraceptive options currently exist (condoms, vasectomy, withdrawal), each with significant disadvantages.
- With demand and acceptance of new male contraceptives growing, a number of potential options are being studied but none have yet made it to market.
- The Parsemus Foundation has a history of significant advocacy and financial support for non-hormonal male contraception, including support of the Clean Sheets pill, ultrasound, Gandarusa, and Vasalgel.
- The Parsemus Foundation has supported the launch of the Male Contraceptive Initiative as well as grants through their Youth Advisory Board.
Project Topics
Men need more contraception options
Did you know that more than 85 million unintended pregnancies happen worldwide each year? With only condoms, vasectomy, and withdrawal as contraceptive options, men have limited choices to control their reproduction. Demand for a non-hormonal, highly effective contraceptive for men is increasing, with use expected to reduce the incidence of unplanned pregnancy.
Scientists are working on a wide variety of methods for male contraception. Male contraceptive research targets the entire reproductive pathway, including spermatogenesis, sperm motility and transport, and fertilization. And progress is being made, with a few hormonal and nonhormonal options being studied in human volunteers now. We anticipate that more male contraceptives will be available in the coming years.
The Parsemus Foundation’s founder Elaine Lissner has been an advocate for the development of new male contraceptives for decades. We have supported and promoted work on the Clean Sheets pill, ultrasound, Gandarusa, and other contraceptives as well as allocating most of the Foundation’s effort toward the development of Vasalgel. The foundation has now partnered with NEXT Life Sciences to bring the Vasalgel product to market.
Take Action on Male Contraceptive Research
Do your homework when selecting male or female contraception to fully understand the pros and cons of each method. Keep in mind that the “failure” rate usually refers to perfect compliance with instructions, and actual experience often involves far more unintended pregnancies. If you are interested in new, non-hormonal contraception methods, you can find detailed information at the Male Contraception Initiative. You can stay abreast of new developments and clinical trials at the links below.
Additional Resources
- For information on male contraceptives, and to lend your voice to advocacy initiatives: Male Contraception Initiative.
- See details about our past work on ultrasound and the Clean Sheets Pill.
- Visit the NEXT Life Sciences website for information on Vasalgel.
- For details on a wide array of male (and female) contraceptives, check out the Contraceptive Technology Innovation Exchange, the searchable contraceptive pipeline database Calliope, and Your Life for tools comparing all available options based on your personal criteria.
- For a recent overviews of male contraceptive research and methods in the pipeline:
- Service CA, Puri D, Hsieh T, Patel DP. (2023). Emerging concepts in male contraception: a narrative review of novel, hormonal and non-hormonal options. Ther Adv Reprod Health. 2023 Jan-Dec. (Free full text).
- Long JE, Lee MS, Blithe DL. (2021). Update on novel hormonal and nonhormonal male contraceptive development. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 13;106(6):e2381-e2392. (Free full text)
- Abbe CR, Page ST, Thurumalai T. (2020). Male contraception. Yale J Bio Med. 93(4):603-613. (Free full text)
- Amory J. (2020). Development of novel male contraceptives. Clin Transl Sci 13(2): 228–237. (Free full text)
What People Are Saying
Responsibility and right to decide – why shouldn’t we explore new options when the methods available today match with the family planning ideals from the last century? You should be able to choose from a range of options, regardless of your gender or genitals.
Alva
There should be an easy condom-free way for men to ensure no offspring arrive.
Zeez
Traditional contraceptive options, meaning the ones for women, aren’t suitable for me. So, I’m hoping that there would be something suitable for my partner.
Joanna
As a male, I want to take responsibility for my half of the procreation equation. Anyway condoms are awful.
McKenzie
Men need more options…moreover, women need men to have more options.
April
Things need to change for the male contraception industry. Being open to change is only the start. Humanity NEEDS more options.
Jonathan
Men should have more options than just condoms (which are not 100% safe) and vasectomy (which is irreversible). For women, there are many options (almost all have some side effects) and most of them are hormonal which require flushing hormones in blood streams.
Shubhi
Male contraceptives are a massively important step for the sexual safety of everyone.
Justis
Men need more contraceptive options. Contraception shouldn’t be almost exclusively hormonal options for women.
Alex
It’s vital to have more birth control options for men!
Max
Men need more options for contraception.
Nicole
Men should be able to take part in contraception without having to use a condom or getting a vasectomy.
Peter
I have had the responsibility and side effects of hormonal contraceptives for 17 years. My fiancé and I would welcome an option that would allow him to take the responsibility for awhile and give me a break from the problems that the hormones cause for me.
Julie
As a millennial, it would be great to have a variety of options that put me in charge of my life instead of relying on female contraceptives or condoms that are not always safe.
Andrew
Using condoms is just the least evil for both partners. Male contraception could have significantly fewer side effects and could be much more precise and target-oriented than the pill for women.
Jonas
We’re newly-wed but we don’t think that we’re fit to be parents yet. I’m only 23 and I think I need to grow up a couple of years before thinking about having a baby. So, instead of wearing condoms for the coming five years or so and feeling miserable about it, I want an effective solution that I can reverse in the future because I know one day we will think of having a baby and I do not want to put my partner at any risk by using hormonal pills. Current methods all focus on the woman and all have terrible side effects (my wife cannot use IUDs) and condoms are fine until you get sick of them during intercourse and just throw them away.
Ahmed
I am a woman and as a migraine sufferer, my contraceptive choices are limited to IUDs or progestin-only pills. Since I experience unwanted side effects with these, we rely on condoms. A longer-term “no-worry” solution would be much preferred. It would be worth the cost as opposed to an unwanted pregnancy!
Sara D., married, no kids
I want control of my fertility that is safe, convenient to use and totally effective. That way I can be in control of my life rather than putting it in the hands of women and government agencies.
S. Gee
I would like the opportunity to be more intimate with my partner and condoms bar that, beyond the conventional ‘doesn’t feel as good’ argument. However, I am extremely concerned about the failure rates of the Pill due to human error and would like to take some responsibility for my future finances into my own hands without being abstinent.
New college graduate, age 22
Condoms are a nice method; however I have a 3-year-old that proves they are not 100% effective!
Frank B., father of 3, age 27
I do not wish to further my genetic line due to a severe bleeder’s disease, which also makes normal vasectomy a no-go.
Anonymous
I provide family planning services to young people in Southern California and would love to have more to offer the young men who come in (and their partners) much more than condoms or permanent vasectomy. I speak from the front lines that most of my clients know about condoms and are NOT using them as much as we would like.
Kristel D, Nurse Practitioner
As a male I would not take any contraceptive that altered my hormonal balance. And the idea of getting a MONTHLY injection – are you crazy??? This is probably why surveys come back saying there’s limited interest in male contraceptives – given that sort of choice, I’m not interested either!
Terry S.
Having control over when I have children is the foremost thing in my life. I place great value on having freedom of choice and freedom from worry. Also, being a person with not much money living in a third world country, a cheap contraceptive is imperative.
Anonymous
- Last updated on October 26, 2023
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Plan A highlighted in article on male birth control
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