Hormonal contraceptives are birth control methods that impact the endocrine system, which is the system of the body that creates the regulatory substances (i.e., hormones) that are transported in tissue fluids (e.g., blood) and stimulate specific cells or tissues into action. In other, simpler terms, hormones allow cells to effectively “talk” to each other.
Chapter 5:
Current Options & Research
Key Points/Learning Objectives
- How does the male reproductive system work?
- What does the sperm’s life cycle look like?
Hormonal vs. Non-Hormonal
Hormonal & Non-hormonal Contraception Primer
There are two main forms of contraception: hormonal and non-hormonal.
Hormonal Contraception
Hormones are part of the function of virtually every cell and organ in the body. They control our moods, growth and development, metabolism, and more. If your endocrine system is not functioning properly, it can lead to issues related to stress management, puberty, and even the ability to get pregnant. The latter of which explains why hormones can be developed to impact the endocrine system for contraceptive purposes.
There are two main types of hormonal contraceptive formulations:
- “Combined Methods”
- “Progestin-only Methods
What is “The Male Pill”?
Non-hormonal Contraception
Contraceptives classified as “non-hormonal” are exactly that: methods that do not affect a person’s hormones. Some common types on non-hormonal contraceptives include:
- Barrier methods
- Copper Intrauterine Devices (IUDs)
- Outercourse
- Withdrawal
- Sterilization
- Rhythm or Calendar Method
Male Contraceptive Initiative focuses specifically on the development of non-hormonal contraceptive options for men. We feel that the time is right to take advantage of new technological developments and provide reproductive autonomy for all in a form that is reliable, safe, and reversible.
Current Options
Condoms
A condom is a barrier device used during sexual intercourse to reduce the probability of pregnancy or a sexually transmitted infection (STI), and there are versions for both male and female users. A barrier device, or barrier method, is something that helps prevent pregnancy by blocking sperm from reaching and subsequently fertilizing the egg.
Vasectomy
Vasectomy is a surgical procedure for male contraception. It is intended to be a permanent form of contraception and, along with condoms, is one of the only methods of birth control available for men.
Videos - Primers
Beyond Condoms & Vasectomy: A Brief Overview of Other Forms of Male Contraception
Why the vasectomy just doesn’t cut it for all men
Male Contraception Beyond Condoms & Vasectomy: It’s About Time
It’s clear that the condoms and vasectomy aren’t for everyone. And it shouldn’t be, just as no one female contraceptive option is expected to be a one-size-fits-all solution. Women have a whole menu of choices that cater to different needs and preferences, and this is what we hope to see in the future of male contraception.
The very concept of male contraceptive methods beyond condoms and vasectomy is still so foreign that it is intangible for many men. Thus, a critical aspect of conducting market research is not only defining the potential market and user characteristics for male methods, but also simply getting men and women to consider a world where multiple male contraceptive methods exist. This normalization process is particularly critical given the fact that the anticipated users of many of the male contraceptives in development are currently infants! By normalizing the conversation with today’s adolescents and adults, the concept of male contraception will be less foreign by the time that products currently in development and the first users mature to a point of intersection: “It’s about time to talk about increased contraceptive options for men as a reality”.
Study Icebreaker:
To help us deliver the best content and advocacy possible, we’d like to know what “Reproductive Autonomy for All” means to you. Please share your thoughts via this survey today.
MCI is on a mission to create a world where everyone has reproductive freedom. Through efforts in advocacy, education, and funding research efforts to lead to a sperm targeting birth control, we want to make family planning an equal playing field. We believe that everyone deserves reproductive autonomy.
Mechanisms of Male Contraception
1. Spermatogenesis Targeting Contraception
One way to influence spermatogenesis is through the manipulation of hormone levels. There are ongoing clinical trials focused on creating hormonal male contraceptives, but there are multiple non-hormonal approaches to stop spermatogenesis or interfere with epidydimal maturation.
A drug that stops spermatogenesis would have interesting characteristics, including a potential onset time of 2-3 months. This is because it takes quite some time for sperm to develop and get ready for action, and even after ceasing spermatogenesis, all of the existing sperm in the pipeline would still remain.
2. Sperm Transport Targeting Contraception
There are multiple groups working on reversible vasectomy, or what we call vas-occlusive devices. These devices work similar to a vasectomy, but instead of cutting the vas deferens, a gel is inserted to block the flow of sperm while allowing fluid movement. Vas-occlusive devices are intended to be easily reversed at the user’s discretion. Some products such as ADAM™ and Vasalgel propose to do this either through natural degradation of the gel, or by a simple restoration procedure.
3. Sperm Motility Targeting Contraception
Any drug that blocks sperm motility could bring about real change to the contraceptive world. These drugs could have a very short onset time, and might only need to be taken a short time before coitus. Also, because sperm demonstrate their motility in the female reproductive tract, women might be able to use this contraceptive as well, bringing true equity to the contraceptive landscape.
There are many well-known targets of sperm motility that could be used for development of male contraceptives. Some under development right now include Eppin, The ion channel CatSper, and Na/K ATPase. MCI has funded some work into this space with Patricia Cuasnicu in Argentina.
4. Fertilization Targeting Contraception
A drug that prevents fertilization has some exciting potential, as theoretically they could be used by both men and women, providing true non-hormonal equity to the contraceptive world. Additionally, it would have the benefit of a short onset time, and could be taken possibly a few hours before coitus.
Current Project and Publications
A literature review is an overview of the previously published works on a specific topic. For an under-studied area of scientific enquiry like male contraception, they are extremely useful in gaining a deeper understanding in the research that has been done and what can be extrapolated from it. In this section, we share some existing literature reviews that will help readers develop a deeper understanding of the field of male birth control research and development.
External Videos
Videos - Lemonade Stand Webinars
Infographics
