Funding for male contraceptive research and development is extremely limited, so it is imperative that we capitalize on the existing body of knowledge, while adding to it.
We highlight the work that we have funded and contributed to on this page, and share some additional external publications that can help inform the future of male contraception.
Market Publications
Understanding people's perceptions about male contraception is critical in informing research and development activities. These research activities help the research community to not only understand what people are thinking about with respect to male contraceptives, but also help shed light on the drivers behind these perceptions. They are vital in developing impactful advocacy efforts.
What About Methods for Men? A Qualitative Analysis of Attitudes Toward Male Contraception in Burkina Faso and Uganda
Male Contraceptive Initiative provided grant funding for this publication, derived from qualitative data taken from focus group discussions with 80 men aged 23–67 and 398 women aged 15–50 conducted in Burkina Faso and Uganda in 2016. It concludes that the acceptability of new male methods among most participants in the two countries indicates a potential demand for male contraceptives. Options should include a variety of method characteristics to maximize choice, engage men, and support men and women's contraceptive needs.
Male Contraceptive Initiative provided grant funding for this publication, derived from qualitative data taken from focus group discussions with 80 men aged 23–67 and 398 women aged 15–50 conducted in Burkina Faso and Uganda in 2016. It concludes that the acceptability of new male methods among most participants in the two countries indicates a potential demand for male contraceptives. Options should include a variety of method characteristics to maximize choice, engage men, and support men and women's contraceptive needs.
Consumer Research Study
Male Contraceptive Initiative led a study to identify unmet needs and satisfaction with current contraceptive methods among a sample of men across key market segments. To the best of our knowledge, this is the largest survey in the United States in the last ten years exclusive to sexually active men ages 18-44 to better understand their attitudes, needs and motivations regarding the future of male contraception as a family planning method.
Male Contraceptive Initiative led a study to identify unmet needs and satisfaction with current contraceptive methods among a sample of men across key market segments. To the best of our knowledge, this is the largest survey in the United States in the last ten years exclusive to sexually active men ages 18-44 to better understand their attitudes, needs and motivations regarding the future of male contraception as a family planning method.
Enhanced Discovery Scan
Male Contraceptive Initiative worked with YTH to explore the body of existing knowledge around male contraception and generate novel solutions for furthering effective development and user engagement in this area. This Executive Summary shares key findings from the study, as well as details on the study’s aims and methodology.
Male Contraceptive Initiative worked with YTH to explore the body of existing knowledge around male contraception and generate novel solutions for furthering effective development and user engagement in this area. This Executive Summary shares key findings from the study, as well as details on the study’s aims and methodology.
Scientific Publications
We both author and provide funding support for the development of scientific publications that can assist in providing a more holistic view of the male contraception field.
Nickels, Logan M., Shane, Kevin, Vahdat, Heather L. , "Catalyzing momentum in male contraceptive development." Biology of Reproduction, 2021
Globally, nearly half of all pregnancies are unplanned. Male contraceptives offer the potential to decrease unintended pregnancy and introduce contraceptive equity, but decades of research have yet to bring a novel product to market. New funding avenues from the philanthropic sector seek to stimulate research in male contraceptives through investments, grants, and support for trainees alongside other programs that encourage product development and ultimately commercialization. This Forum outlines the purpose of and funding opportunities provided by Male Contraceptive Initiative (MCI), a funding agency and non-profit focused on the advancement of non-hormonal, reversible contraceptive technologies for those who produce sperm.
Globally, nearly half of all pregnancies are unplanned. Male contraceptives offer the potential to decrease unintended pregnancy and introduce contraceptive equity, but decades of research have yet to bring a novel product to market. New funding avenues from the philanthropic sector seek to stimulate research in male contraceptives through investments, grants, and support for trainees alongside other programs that encourage product development and ultimately commercialization. This Forum outlines the purpose of and funding opportunities provided by Male Contraceptive Initiative (MCI), a funding agency and non-profit focused on the advancement of non-hormonal, reversible contraceptive technologies for those who produce sperm.
Vahdat, Heather L, Kevin Shane, and Logan M Nickels, "The Role of Team Science in the Future of Male Contraception†." Biology of Reproduction, 2020.
In this paper, Male Contraceptive Initiative's executive team makes the case that, by engaging those with deep technical expertise in the field of male contraception as well as thought leaders from other fields of practice, design-thinking offers an opportunity to identify potential strategies, including nontraditional approaches, capable of driving the product development process forward, in a faster and more efficient manner.
In this paper, Male Contraceptive Initiative's executive team makes the case that, by engaging those with deep technical expertise in the field of male contraception as well as thought leaders from other fields of practice, design-thinking offers an opportunity to identify potential strategies, including nontraditional approaches, capable of driving the product development process forward, in a faster and more efficient manner.
Campelia, Georgina D., Carmen Abbe, Logan M. Nickels, Evy McElmeel, and John K. Amory, '"Shared Risk": Reframing Risk Analysis in the Ethics of Novel Male Contraceptives', Contraception, 2020.
Male Contraceptive Initiative's Logan Nickels co-authored this paper seeking to make a case can be made that use of a male contraceptive, even one associated with a very small risk of serious side effects and even death, is justifiable in a risk-benefit analysis as long as the overall risk to a given couple, the ‘‘shared risk,” is at or below the risk of currently available combined hormonal contraceptives or unintended pregnancy.
Male Contraceptive Initiative's Logan Nickels co-authored this paper seeking to make a case can be made that use of a male contraceptive, even one associated with a very small risk of serious side effects and even death, is justifiable in a risk-benefit analysis as long as the overall risk to a given couple, the ‘‘shared risk,” is at or below the risk of currently available combined hormonal contraceptives or unintended pregnancy.
Dorman, Emily, et al. “Modeling the impact of novel male contraceptive methods on reductions in unintended pregnancies in Nigeria, South Africa, and the United States.” Contraception 97.1 (2018): 62-69.
The findings of this paper co-authored by Male Contraceptive Initiative's co-founder Dr. David Sokal asserts that, even under conservative assumptions, the introduction of a male pill or temporary vas occlusion could meaningfully contribute to averting unintended pregnancies in a variety of contexts, especially in settings where current use of contraception is low.
The findings of this paper co-authored by Male Contraceptive Initiative's co-founder Dr. David Sokal asserts that, even under conservative assumptions, the introduction of a male pill or temporary vas occlusion could meaningfully contribute to averting unintended pregnancies in a variety of contexts, especially in settings where current use of contraception is low.
MCI Publications
Male Contraceptive Initiative develops its own publications to share our perspectives on the field of male contraception, as well as to highlight the work we are doing to advance it.
Male Contraceptive Initiative's Vision & Mission
An organization’s vision, mission, and principles are its heart and soul. They act as the North Star that guides all organizational activities, from strategy to execution. Male Contraceptive Initiative developed these defining organizational statements in a deliberate, intentional manner in order to articulate not just our motivations and principles, but also our desired impact and the steps we take towards realizing it. This publication details our vision and mission statements, as well how they extrapolate into our core organizational principles and align with our strategic activities.
An organization’s vision, mission, and principles are its heart and soul. They act as the North Star that guides all organizational activities, from strategy to execution. Male Contraceptive Initiative developed these defining organizational statements in a deliberate, intentional manner in order to articulate not just our motivations and principles, but also our desired impact and the steps we take towards realizing it. This publication details our vision and mission statements, as well how they extrapolate into our core organizational principles and align with our strategic activities.
Male Contraceptive Initiative’s 2019 Ideation Event Report
MCI invited leaders in male contraception, and from other fields of practice to contribute their knowledge and experience to brainstorm potential solutions to the persistent challenges in the field of male contraceptive research and development over the course of a 3-day ideation event at the IDEO offices in San Francisco. This report shares details about and the outcomes from the event.
MCI invited leaders in male contraception, and from other fields of practice to contribute their knowledge and experience to brainstorm potential solutions to the persistent challenges in the field of male contraceptive research and development over the course of a 3-day ideation event at the IDEO offices in San Francisco. This report shares details about and the outcomes from the event.
Male Contraceptive Initiative’s 2021 Annual Report
MCI had a tremendous year in 2021 thanks to your generous support. This annual report shares details about all that we were able to accomplish together.
MCI had a tremendous year in 2021 thanks to your generous support. This annual report shares details about all that we were able to accomplish together.
Australia 2021 Virtual Ideation Event Report
MCI convened a cohort of male contraception researchers and related subject matter experts from Australia and the United States for a three-day virtual ideation event exploring opportunities to collaborate in order to accelerate the product development pipeline, as well as to capitalize on the supportive ecosystem for male birth control in Australia. This report shares details about and the outcomes from the event.
MCI convened a cohort of male contraception researchers and related subject matter experts from Australia and the United States for a three-day virtual ideation event exploring opportunities to collaborate in order to accelerate the product development pipeline, as well as to capitalize on the supportive ecosystem for male birth control in Australia. This report shares details about and the outcomes from the event.
MCI Grantee Publications
Male Contraceptive Initiative engages with and supports a diverse, international research community working to make new methods of non-hormonal, reversible male contraceptives a reality. Our grantees represent decades of experience in scientific enquiry that span multiple research areas. As such, there is an extensive body of work attributable to them. In this section, we highlight only the publications of our grantees that are directly attributable to MCI’s support.
Physiological Characterization of the Transporter-Mediated Uptake of the Reversible Male Contraceptive H2-Gamendazole Across the Blood-Testis Barrier. Raymond K. Hau, Joseph S. Tash, Gunda Ingrid Georg, Stephen H. Wright and Nathan J. Cherrington Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics July 2, 2022, JPET-AR-2022-001195; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1124/jpet.122.001195
Noman, M., Kyzer, J. L., Chung, S., Wolgemuth, D. J., & Georg, G. I. (2020). Retinoic acid receptor antagonists for male contraception: current status†. Biology of reproduction, 103(2), 390–399. https://doi.org/10.1093/biolre/ioaa122
Eise NT, Simpson JS, Thompson PE, Ventura S. Aqueous extracts of Urtica dioica (stinging nettle) leaf contain a P2-purinoceptor antagonist-Implications for male fertility. PLoS One. 2022 Jul 28;17(7):e0271735. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0271735. PMID: 35900970; PMCID: PMC9333203.
C2cd6-encoded CatSperτ targets sperm calcium channel to Ca2+ signaling domains in the flagellar membrane
Jae Yeon Hwang, Huafeng Wang, Yonggang Lu, Masahito Ikawa, Jean-Ju Chung
A single amino acid mutation in the mouse MEIG1 protein disrupts a cargo transport system necessary for sperm formation
Wei Li, Qian Huang, Ling Zhang, Hong Liu, David Zhang, Shuo Yuan, Yitian Yap, Wei Qu, Rita Shiang, Shizheng Song, Rex A. Hess, Zhibing Zhang
Triptonide is a reversible non-hormonal male contraceptive agent in mice and non-human primates
Zongliang Chang, Weibing Qin, Huili Zheng, Kathleen Schegg, Lu Han, Xiaohua Liu, Yue Wang, Zhuqing Wang, Hayden McSwiggin, Hongying Peng, Shuiqiao Yuan, Jiabao Wu, Yongxia Wang, Shenghui Zhu, Yanjia Jiang, Hua Nie, Yuan Tang, Yu Zhou, Michael J. M. Hitchcock, Yunge Tang & Wei Yan
3D in situ imaging of the female reproductive tract reveals molecular signatures of fertilizing spermatozoa in mice
Lukas Ded, Jae Yeon Hwang, Kiyoshi Miki, Huanan F Shi, Jean-Ju Chung. '3D in situ imaging of the female reproductive tract reveals molecular signatures of fertilizing spermatozoa in mice,' eLife, 2020
What About Methods for Men? A Qualitative Analysis of Attitudes Toward Male Contraception in Burkina Faso and Uganda
Alice F. Cartwright, Anna Lawton, Aurélie Brunie and Rebecca L. Callahan. 'What About Methods for Men? A Qualitative Analysis of Attitudes Toward Male Contraception in Burkina Faso and Uganda,' International Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health , 2020, Vol. 46 (2020), pp. 153-162
Synthesis of 2-phenyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydroquinoxaline derivatives and screening for P2X1-purinoreceptor antagonist activity in isolated preparations of rat vas deferens, for translation into a male contraceptive
Mathiew M, Dennis B, Bennetts F, Su E, Nguyen N, Botteon A, Baell J, Ventura S. 'Synthesis of 2-phenyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydroquinoxaline derivatives and screening for P2X1-purinoreceptor antagonist activity in isolated preparations of rat vas deferens, for translation into a male contraceptive,' Biology of Reproduction, 2020.
The Impact of Di-2-Ethylhexyl Phthalate on Sperm Fertility
Liliya Gabelev Khasin, John Della Rosa, Natalie Petersen, Jacob Moeller, Lance J. Kriegsfeld, and Polina V. Lishko, ‘The Impact of Di-2-Ethylhexyl Phthalate on Sperm Fertility,’ Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology, 2020,
Optimization of Lead Compounds Into On-Demand, Non-Hormonal Contraceptives: Leveraging a Public-Private Drug Discovery Institute Collaboration
Balbach, Melanie, Makoto Fushimi, David J Huggins, Clemens Steegborn, Peter T Meinke, Lonny R Levin, et al., ‘Optimization of Lead Compounds into On-Demand, Nonhormonal Contraceptives: Leveraging a Public–Private Drug Discovery Institute Collaboration†’, Biology of Reproduction, 2020.
HIPK4 is Essential for Murine Spermiogenesis
J Aaron Crapster, Paul G Rack, Zane J Hellmann, Austen D Le, Christopher M Adams, Ryan D Leib, Joshua E Elias, John Perrino, Barry Behr, Yanfeng Li, Jennifer Lin, Hong Zeng, James K Chen. 'HIPK4 is Essential for Murine Spermiogenesis,' eLife 2020
Noman, M., Kyzer, J. L., Chung, S., Wolgemuth, D. J., & Georg, G. I. (2020). Retinoic acid receptor antagonists for male contraception: current status†. Biology of reproduction, 103(2), 390–399. https://doi.org/10.1093/biolre/ioaa122
Eise NT, Simpson JS, Thompson PE, Ventura S. Aqueous extracts of Urtica dioica (stinging nettle) leaf contain a P2-purinoceptor antagonist-Implications for male fertility. PLoS One. 2022 Jul 28;17(7):e0271735. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0271735. PMID: 35900970; PMCID: PMC9333203.
C2cd6-encoded CatSperτ targets sperm calcium channel to Ca2+ signaling domains in the flagellar membrane
Jae Yeon Hwang, Huafeng Wang, Yonggang Lu, Masahito Ikawa, Jean-Ju Chung
A single amino acid mutation in the mouse MEIG1 protein disrupts a cargo transport system necessary for sperm formation
Wei Li, Qian Huang, Ling Zhang, Hong Liu, David Zhang, Shuo Yuan, Yitian Yap, Wei Qu, Rita Shiang, Shizheng Song, Rex A. Hess, Zhibing Zhang
Triptonide is a reversible non-hormonal male contraceptive agent in mice and non-human primates
Zongliang Chang, Weibing Qin, Huili Zheng, Kathleen Schegg, Lu Han, Xiaohua Liu, Yue Wang, Zhuqing Wang, Hayden McSwiggin, Hongying Peng, Shuiqiao Yuan, Jiabao Wu, Yongxia Wang, Shenghui Zhu, Yanjia Jiang, Hua Nie, Yuan Tang, Yu Zhou, Michael J. M. Hitchcock, Yunge Tang & Wei Yan
3D in situ imaging of the female reproductive tract reveals molecular signatures of fertilizing spermatozoa in mice
Lukas Ded, Jae Yeon Hwang, Kiyoshi Miki, Huanan F Shi, Jean-Ju Chung. '3D in situ imaging of the female reproductive tract reveals molecular signatures of fertilizing spermatozoa in mice,' eLife, 2020
What About Methods for Men? A Qualitative Analysis of Attitudes Toward Male Contraception in Burkina Faso and Uganda
Alice F. Cartwright, Anna Lawton, Aurélie Brunie and Rebecca L. Callahan. 'What About Methods for Men? A Qualitative Analysis of Attitudes Toward Male Contraception in Burkina Faso and Uganda,' International Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health , 2020, Vol. 46 (2020), pp. 153-162
Synthesis of 2-phenyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydroquinoxaline derivatives and screening for P2X1-purinoreceptor antagonist activity in isolated preparations of rat vas deferens, for translation into a male contraceptive
Mathiew M, Dennis B, Bennetts F, Su E, Nguyen N, Botteon A, Baell J, Ventura S. 'Synthesis of 2-phenyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydroquinoxaline derivatives and screening for P2X1-purinoreceptor antagonist activity in isolated preparations of rat vas deferens, for translation into a male contraceptive,' Biology of Reproduction, 2020.
The Impact of Di-2-Ethylhexyl Phthalate on Sperm Fertility
Liliya Gabelev Khasin, John Della Rosa, Natalie Petersen, Jacob Moeller, Lance J. Kriegsfeld, and Polina V. Lishko, ‘The Impact of Di-2-Ethylhexyl Phthalate on Sperm Fertility,’ Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology, 2020,
Optimization of Lead Compounds Into On-Demand, Non-Hormonal Contraceptives: Leveraging a Public-Private Drug Discovery Institute Collaboration
Balbach, Melanie, Makoto Fushimi, David J Huggins, Clemens Steegborn, Peter T Meinke, Lonny R Levin, et al., ‘Optimization of Lead Compounds into On-Demand, Nonhormonal Contraceptives: Leveraging a Public–Private Drug Discovery Institute Collaboration†’, Biology of Reproduction, 2020.
HIPK4 is Essential for Murine Spermiogenesis
J Aaron Crapster, Paul G Rack, Zane J Hellmann, Austen D Le, Christopher M Adams, Ryan D Leib, Joshua E Elias, John Perrino, Barry Behr, Yanfeng Li, Jennifer Lin, Hong Zeng, James K Chen. 'HIPK4 is Essential for Murine Spermiogenesis,' eLife 2020
External Publications
In this section, we highlight select publications that we feel are useful in developing a holistic understanding of the challenges and opportunities inherent to family planning and contraception, generally, and male contraception, specifically.
"Progress in Male Contraception" by Christina Wang, Diana Blithe, Stephanie Page, David Serfaty, and Regine Sitruk Ware
"State of World Population 2022: Seeing the Unseen" by United Nations Population Fund
"Contraceptive and Infertility Target DataBase: a contraceptive drug development tool for targeting and analysis of human reproductive specific tissues" by Subarna Sinha, Merrill Knapp, John Pywtorak, Greg McCain, Kenneth Wingerden, Colin VanDervoort, J Mark Gondek, Peter Madrid, Toufan Parman, Stephen Gerrard, Jill E Long, Diana L Blithe, Stuart Moss, Min S Lee
"Contraceptive Use by Method (2019)" from the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs
"Will Men Use Novel Male Contraceptive Methods and Will Women Trust Them? A Systematic Review" by John J. Reynolds-Wright, Nicholas J. Cameron, and Richard A. Anderson
"Family planning and contraception use in transgender men" by Alexis Light, Lin-Fan Wang, Alexander Zeymo, and Veronica Gomez-Lobo
“Contraceptive technologies for global health: ethically getting to safe, effective and acceptable options for women and men” by John Townsend, Régine Sitruk-Ware, Saumya Rama Rao, and Jim Sailer
“Sexual orientation-related differences in contraceptive use: A brief report based on a cohort of adolescent and young women” by Brittany M. Charlton, Colleen A. Reynolds, Elizabeth Janiak, Amy D. DiVasta, Rachel K. Jones, Jorge E. Chavarro, Vishnudas Sarda, S. Bryn Austin
“Parents' experience of unintended childbearing: A qualitative study of factors that mitigate or exacerbate effects” by Megan L. Kavanaugh, Kathryn Kost, Lori Frohwirth, Isaac Maddow-Zimet, and Vivian Gor
“Are higher unintended pregnancy rates among minorities a result of disparate access to contraception?” by Michele Troutman, Saima Rafique, and Torie Comeaux Plowden
"Toward Development of the Male Pill: A Decade of Potential Non-hormonal Contraceptive Targets" by Katarzyna Kent, Madelaine Johnston, Natasha Strump, and Thomas X. Garcia
"Preclinical contraceptive development for men and women" by Daniel S. Johnston, Erwin Goldberg
"Continuing the search for a hormonal male contraceptive" by Fiona Yuen, Brian T. Nguyen, Ronald S. Swerdloff, Christina Wang
"RISUG® as a male contraceptive: Journey from bench to bedside" by Barkha Khilwani, Ayesha Badar, Abdul S. Ansari & Nirmal K. Lohiya
"Assessing safety in hormonal male contraception: A critical appraisal of adverse events reported in a male contraceptive trial" by Carmen Abbe, Alison C. Roxby
"Male contraception" by John Amory
"Attitudes toward male fertility control: results of a multinational survey on four continents" by Klaas Heinemann, Farid Saad, Martin Wiesemes, Steven White, Lothar Heinemann
"State of World Population 2022: Seeing the Unseen" by United Nations Population Fund
"Contraceptive and Infertility Target DataBase: a contraceptive drug development tool for targeting and analysis of human reproductive specific tissues" by Subarna Sinha, Merrill Knapp, John Pywtorak, Greg McCain, Kenneth Wingerden, Colin VanDervoort, J Mark Gondek, Peter Madrid, Toufan Parman, Stephen Gerrard, Jill E Long, Diana L Blithe, Stuart Moss, Min S Lee
"Contraceptive Use by Method (2019)" from the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs
"Will Men Use Novel Male Contraceptive Methods and Will Women Trust Them? A Systematic Review" by John J. Reynolds-Wright, Nicholas J. Cameron, and Richard A. Anderson
"Family planning and contraception use in transgender men" by Alexis Light, Lin-Fan Wang, Alexander Zeymo, and Veronica Gomez-Lobo
“Contraceptive technologies for global health: ethically getting to safe, effective and acceptable options for women and men” by John Townsend, Régine Sitruk-Ware, Saumya Rama Rao, and Jim Sailer
“Sexual orientation-related differences in contraceptive use: A brief report based on a cohort of adolescent and young women” by Brittany M. Charlton, Colleen A. Reynolds, Elizabeth Janiak, Amy D. DiVasta, Rachel K. Jones, Jorge E. Chavarro, Vishnudas Sarda, S. Bryn Austin
“Parents' experience of unintended childbearing: A qualitative study of factors that mitigate or exacerbate effects” by Megan L. Kavanaugh, Kathryn Kost, Lori Frohwirth, Isaac Maddow-Zimet, and Vivian Gor
“Are higher unintended pregnancy rates among minorities a result of disparate access to contraception?” by Michele Troutman, Saima Rafique, and Torie Comeaux Plowden
"Toward Development of the Male Pill: A Decade of Potential Non-hormonal Contraceptive Targets" by Katarzyna Kent, Madelaine Johnston, Natasha Strump, and Thomas X. Garcia
"Preclinical contraceptive development for men and women" by Daniel S. Johnston, Erwin Goldberg
"Continuing the search for a hormonal male contraceptive" by Fiona Yuen, Brian T. Nguyen, Ronald S. Swerdloff, Christina Wang
"RISUG® as a male contraceptive: Journey from bench to bedside" by Barkha Khilwani, Ayesha Badar, Abdul S. Ansari & Nirmal K. Lohiya
"Assessing safety in hormonal male contraception: A critical appraisal of adverse events reported in a male contraceptive trial" by Carmen Abbe, Alison C. Roxby
"Male contraception" by John Amory
"Attitudes toward male fertility control: results of a multinational survey on four continents" by Klaas Heinemann, Farid Saad, Martin Wiesemes, Steven White, Lothar Heinemann
Are there additional publications you would like MCI to feature here? Contact us today and let us know how we can support you!
