Male contraceptive pills effective

The first trial of a male contraceptive in sexually active couples has shown 100 per cent efficacy in preventing pregnancies. The hormonal treatment - a combination of an implant under the skin and a three-monthly injection - was used by 55 men for one year and none of their partners became pregnant. The method relieved the men of the need to remember to take a daily pill, as in earlier trials. Researchers from the Centre for Reproductive Biology at Edinburgh University said that there were six groups around the world testing versions of a male contraceptive focused on a combination of the male hormone testosterone and the female hormone progestogen. Trials on volunteers in the UK had shown that the hormonal combination prevented production of sperm in men, but the researchers, from the Anzac Research Institute in Sydney, had been the first to show that it worked in a real situation when used by couples. They said that this showed the final product to be a single injection containing testosterone and progestogen which could easily be given by local doctors on a three to four-monthly basis and still maintain sexual health.The reversible treatment works by making use of the body's natural system which is involved in initiating puberty. A combination of testosterone and progestogen temporarily turns off the signals from the brain that stimulate sperm production. The process also turns off the man's testosterone production - so he needs to be given extra doses of the hormone to keep him healthy and maintain his sex drive. The researchers said that it was now up to the pharmaceutical companies to develop the research into a usable product. Two companies, Organon and Schering, announced 18 months ago that they were working to develop a male pill, likely to be available either as an implant or in an oral form. Surveys have shown that women are enthusiastic about the prospect of handing over responsibility for contraception to men - especially if protection is guaranteed by an implant. But experts expect a male pill to find niche markets among couples in stable relationships. One likely period of high demand would be after a woman has had a baby and is still breast-feeding, when the female pill is not appropriate.