Interested in Male Birth Control? You Have Options
There’s no male birth control drug on the market, but based on what men say, male birth control should be a booming business: An estimated 17 million men are interested in contraception that suits their lifestyles, and 80% feel they are solely responsible for birth control or share the responsibility with their partners
If you are among them, there are options besides a pill. If you are thinking about family planning, it’s important to have a conversation with your healthcare provider and your partner and learn about the many options for male birth control available today.
Some of the most effective forms of contraception are made for men. And thanks to ongoing clinical trials, over-the-counter options might come to market in the coming years.
Still, many women shoulder the burden. An estimated 65% of girls and women aged 15 to 49 use birth control, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In doing so, many tolerate side effects ranging from headaches and weight gain (the pill) to ovarian cysts (IUD). Many also foot the expense.
4 Current (and Future) Male Birth Control Methods
Fortunately, more men want to share the responsibility of pregnancy prevention by using male birth control. Four in 10 men are “very” interested in new methods of male birth control, according to research by the Male Contraceptive Initiative, a nonprofit group.
Here are your options today and what may be coming.
Vasectomy – the “Permanent” Choice
A vasectomy is a minimally invasive surgery in which the sperm’s passage to the penis is literally cut off, making it nearly 100% effective at preventing pregnancy. It also is considered permanent.
During a vasectomy, the surgeon cuts and then seals the tubes your sperm travels through, via two small punctures. No stitches are required.
The procedure usually takes 10 to 20 minutes and a local anesthetic will block any pain. If you worry about anxiety, ask your doctor about nitrous oxide, or laughing gas, which can relax you.
You will go home the day of the procedure and take a few days to recover. You should avoid strenuous activity and sex for about a week, and use back-up birth control for two to three months. Some live sperm may linger in your system, so use precaution until your doctor confirms you are free of mobile sperm. (You can carry up to 100,000 immobile sperm and still be safe from impregnating a woman; but any number of mobile sperm can cause a pregnancy.)
You can learn more about getting a vasectomy here.
Condoms – The King of Male Birth Control
The common condom has a royal history, dating back the mythological King Minos in 3000 B.C. According to ancient record, Minos used a “sheath” made of goat bladder to protect his partners from illness and death, not pregnancy. The Ancient Egyptians also used sheaths.
The condom has changed its material makeup in the following centuries, but it remains one of the safest and most affordable methods for preventing the spread of sexually transmitted disease and pregnancy. If used perfectly, condoms are 98% effective.
However, condoms can rip, leak, or slip off if you’re not careful. Each year, nearly 15 of every 100 people who rely only on condoms for birth control get pregnant. Apply them patiently.
Spermicide – Stops Sperm in Their Tracks
Spermicide is made of a chemical, nonoxynol-9 (N-9), that kills sperm so they can’t fertilize an egg. You can find it as a cream, foam, jelly, suppository, or tablet, and can use it alone or with other methods. Instructions vary depending on the type, but typically you should apply the spermicide 10 to 15 minutes before sex.
Used alone, spermicide is 70% to 80% effective at preventing pregnancy. Spermicide condoms (condoms coated with N-9) are generally 87% effective, when factoring in accidents. Used perfectly, N-9 condoms are 98% safe, like regular condoms.
One warning: Spermicide can contribute to urinary tract infections (UTIs) in some women. So you might want to ask your partner about UTIs before using spermicide. Also, spermicide does not protect against STDs.
What’s Next? Male Hormone Gel
Researchers have been testing a male hormone formulation to prevent pregnancy since 2005, and in 2024 made a breakthrough with a topical gel known as NES/T.
NES/T gel is a combination of a synthetic hormone called Nestorone, which suppresses sperm production, and testosterone. Recent tests show that when rubbed into the shoulder daily, this mixture is 86% effective at reducing sperm production in 15 weeks or less, while maintaining healthy testosterone levels.
If researchers get the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s approval for a trial, they could begin performing the final phase of testing NES/T gel in 2025. But they need funding and time, so it could be a few years until a hormone-based male birth control is available.
If You Have Male Birth Control Questions
Men might not have as many choices for contraception as women, but you do have male birth control options. If you are among the 17 million men interested in preventing unplanned pregnancies, your urologist can help you decide which male birth control method fits your lifestyle.
The physicians at Michigan Institute of Urology are ready to talk about male birth control with you, candidly and discreetly. Contact us here to request an appointment for a consultation at one of our four regional locations.
