Male Hormonal Contraceptive Methods and Efficacy
Summary
Male hormonal contraception seeks to provide reversible, effective control of fertility by suppressing the production and function of sperm through exogenous hormone administration. The principal strategy involves administration of testosterone, alone or in combination with a progestin, to inhibit hypothalamic gonadotropin-releasing hormone secretion and thus reduce pituitary luteinising hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone levels. This suppression interrupts spermatogenesis in the testes, producing oligo- or azoospermia with contraceptive efficacy comparable to female methods. Various delivery systems have been explored, including injectable formulations, transdermal gels and implants, as well as novel steroids that combine androgenic and progestational activity in a single molecule. Clinical trials over recent decades have demonstrated high rates of sperm suppression, rapid reversibility upon cessation and generally mild side-effect profiles (acne, mood changes and alterations in libido). Surveys of potential users and their partners indicate substantial willingness to adopt new male methods, provided that regimens are user-friendly and side effects minimal. Despite clear proof of concept, progress towards regulatory approval has been hindered by variable individual responses, funding limitations and the need for optimised formulations that balance efficacy, safety and acceptability. Continued advances in hormone design, delivery technologies and global collaboration are essential to bringing the first approved male hormonal contraceptive to market and widening family-planning options worldwide.
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Male Hormonal Contraceptive Methods and Efficacy publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in male hormonal contraceptive methods and efficacy across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Spermatogenesis: The process by which male germ cells in the testes develop into mature spermatozoa.
Progestin: A synthetic compound that mimics the action of progesterone and suppresses gonadotropin release.
Androgen: A class of steroid hormones, including testosterone, responsible for male secondary sexual characteristics and reproductive function.
Hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis: The hormonal feedback system involving the hypothalamus, pituitary gland and gonads that regulates reproductive hormone secretion.
Prodrug: An inactive precursor that undergoes metabolic conversion in the body to release an active drug.
Bioavailability: The proportion of an administered dose of a drug that reaches the systemic circulation in an active form.
References
- Identification of the Biotransformation Pathways of a Potential Oral Male Contraceptive, 11β-Methyl-19-Nortestosterone (11β-MNT) and Its Prodrugs: An In Vitro Study Highlights the Contribution of Polymorphic Intestinal UGT2B17. Pharmaceutics (2024).
- Hormonal Male Contraception: Getting to Market. Frontiers in Endocrinology (2022).
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