Despite the availability of many female contraceptives, the unintended pregnancy rate is significant. The need and demand for new male contraceptive options have 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.
PROJECT
Male Contraceptive
Research
HUMAN HEALTH
PROJECT
Male Contraceptive
Research
HUMAN HEALTH
Project summary
Background
- 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
Key points
- 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.
- Several male contraceptives have started clinical trials, so the future is promising for new male contraception.
Parsemus' role
- 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.
- The Parsemus Foundation launched work on Vasalgel, a non-hormonal male contraceptive. NEXT Life Sciences has taken over development of Vasalgel, which is the technology behind Plan A. For more in formation, visit the Plan A website.
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.
Plan A male contraceptive
The Parsemus Foundation has partnered with NEXT Life Sciences to continue development of the Vasalgel male contraceptive. NEXT Life Sciences announced the launch of Plan A birth control for men, using the Vasalgel technology.
Sign up for updates from NEXT Life Sciences and visit the NEXT Life Sciences Plan A website to get more information.
Vasalgel
has a new home
After a decade of research on Vasalgel, the Parsemus Foundation determined that the reversible, long-lasting contraceptive for men was ready to advance to the next level. The search for an organization with the resources needed to lead the project to the marketplace ended when the Parsemus Foundation selected NEXT Life Sciences, Inc. as our partner. NEXT Life Sciences’ mission is to develop and distribute medical technology that empowers people to choose when and whether to have a child.
NEXT Life Sciences announced its launch of the product called Plan A, using the Vasalgel technology for male contraception. In 2025, the NEXT team commenced in-human clinical trials.
For more information, see the NEXT Life Sciences and Plan A websites.
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.
- To stay informed about Plan A male contraceptive using the Vasalgel technology, sign up for updates from NEXT Life Sciences.
Additional resources
Scientific publications
See our searchable bibliography for a complete library of scientific publications on our projects.
Key publications on male contraceptives in development:
- Wang C, Meriggiola MC, Goulis DG. (2024) Special issue: Male contraception current perspectives. Andrology 12(7):1463-1609. (17 articles Free full text)
- 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)
Other new male contraceptive information
- 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 Plan A, which uses the Vasalgel technology.
- 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.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Male Contraceptive Research
The Current State of Male Contraception
Q: Why are there still no male birth control options besides condoms and vasectomy?
A: The safety requirements are higher for male contraceptives because they are being used by healthy individuals to prevent a condition (pregnancy) that does not occur in their own bodies. Additionally, there has been a lack of investment from major pharmaceutical companies. However, there are now multiple male contraceptives in human clinical trials, so the future looks promising for new options to be available in the coming years.
Q: What are the hurdles in developing a new male contraceptive?
A: Drug development is often a long, expensive process. It includes many steps, from the discovery of a new method to testing and clinical trials, getting regulatory approvals, and finally manufacturing and monitoring the new contraceptive. For information on this process and male contraceptives in development, see the Male Contraceptive Initiative.
Q: Are male contraceptives “hormonal” like the female pill?
A: Both hormonal and non-hormonal methods are being developed. We have found that most men prefer a reversible, non-hormonal method.
- Hormonal: These use testosterone (often combined with progestin) to signal the brain to stop sperm production.
- Non-Hormonal: These methods may focus on physically blocking the sperm (like Vasalgel), affecting the development of sperm, its ability to swim or fertilize an egg.
Vasalgel and Long-Acting Reversible Contraception (LARC)
Q: What is Vasalgel, and how is it different from a vasectomy?
A: Vasalgel is a long-acting, non-hormonal, reversible contraceptive. Unlike a vasectomy, which cuts or ties the vas deferens (the tube sperm travel through), Vasalgel involves injecting a specialized polymer gel into the tube. This gel acts as a filter, blocking sperm. The key difference is that Vasalgel is designed to dissolve and be flushed out if the man decides he wants to restore his fertility.
Q: How long does Vasalgel last?
A: While clinical trials are ongoing to determine the exact duration in humans, the goal is for Vasalgel to provide protection for several years, like an IUD for women, making it a “set-it-and-forget-it” option.
Q: What is the status of Vasalgel?
A: The Parsemus Foundation conducted initial studies on Vasalgel, and in 2022 partnered with NEXT Life Sciences to complete the required testing and regulatory requirements to bring it to market. NEXT developed Plan A using Vasalgel technology and began clinical trials in 2025. Visit Plan A to join their email list and receive updates and clinical trial announcements. You can also submit questions by using their contact page.
Other Methods in Development
Q: What is the “Male Contraceptive Gel” (NES/T) I’ve been hearing about?
A: This is a hormonal gel that a man rubs onto his shoulders daily. It contains a combination of testosterone and segesterone acetate (a progestin). The progestin shuts down sperm production, while the testosterone maintains the man’s normal sex drive and other functions. It is currently in advanced clinical trials.
Q: Is there a “Male Pill” coming soon?
A: Several versions of a male pill are in early-stage human trials. Some are hormonal, while newer versions are non-hormonal. For example, YCT-529 is a non-hormonal, oral male contraceptive pill being developed by YourChoice Therapeutics that recently passed its first human safety trial. It works by preventing sperm from swimming.
Safety and Side Effects
Q: Will male birth control lower my libido or cause “mood swings”?
A: This was a concern in early hormonal trials. However, newer formulations (like the NES/T gel) are designed to keep testosterone at normal physiological levels in the blood to prevent a drop in sex drive. Non-hormonal methods like Vasalgel/Plan A avoid these side effects entirely because they do not interfere with the endocrine system.
Q: Does male birth control protect against STIs?
A: Barrier methods like the condom protect against sexually transmitted diseases(STIs). But most new methods in development do not, as they are designed strictly for pregnancy prevention.
How to Get Involved
Q: When will these options be available at my doctor’s office?
A: Developing a new medical device or drug takes years of rigorous testing. While some methods are in Phase 2 or Phase 3 clinical trials, it will likely be a few more years before they receive FDA approval. You can support the process by donating to research or signing up for updates on clinical trial recruitment.
Last updated on September 10, 2026
