MALE BIRTH CONTROL COULD BE ON THE RISE

Male Birth Control Could be On The Rise

Erandi Liera

University of Texas at El Paso

MALE BIRTH CONTROL COULD BE ON THE RISE

Male Birth Control Could be On The Rise
Birth control has caused a big scandal in the media for many years now, specifically
revolving around women, since women are the primary consumers of birth control. The reason
women are the current primary consumers of birth control is because they obtain a variety of
options. While men currently only obtain two birth control options. Scientists all around the
world have acknowledged this information, and have decided to come together to produce better,
more effective options for men. As far as the health community knows they have been pretty
successful during many of their animal studies, but have had difficulty taking it any further. With
that being said, this paper will consist of informing the community over the new birth control
options men could have access to in the near future, as well as covering why male birth control
hasnt been taken any farther; along with why scientist are strongly pushing this product on the
community, and how the community is responding to having new options for men.
What are the new approaches to male birth control, how many are there, and in
what ways are they different from one another?
As mentioned before, currently there are only two existing forms of male birth control.
Which include the condom, and the vasectomy. Having known that, scientists have gradually
taken new approaches to provide better birth control options for these men. These scientists have
been working on many new forms of male birth control, but here are 5 in particular that we know
of so far. The non-profit organization Male Contraception Initiative (MCI) has provided
information over each and every single new form of male birth control, with hopes of having
these new methods available for all men in the near future. The first method shown on their
website is called Gendarussa, which is an herbal form of male birth control that is attained from
a three-meter-high shrub that grows natively in Indonesia on the island of Papua (MCI). A

MALE BIRTH CONTROL COULD BE ON THE RISE

company called PT Indo Farma (MCI) is able to extract ingredients from the plant to produce
it into a pill type of birth control for men. The way this plant-based pill works is through the
ingredients extracted from gendarussa, which affects the enzymes which allow sperm to
penetrate the ovum(MCI). The fact that these enzymes are being affected does not allow the
sperm to get through the ovums outer shell.
The second method shown is called Eppin, which is typically associated with a drug
known as anti-Eppin, this form of male birth control can be delivered either orally, or beneath
the skin. In addition Eppin, and anti-Eppin act during ejaculation when semenogelin, a protein
found in seminal fluid, binds to Eppin, a protein covering the sperms surface(MCI,). The way
the anti-Eppin drug works is by being irrevocable to Eppin on the sperms surface, which allows
the anti-Eppin drug to remain bound to Eppin, stopping the sperm from swimming towards the
egg.
The third method shown is called the clean sheets pill, the pill is based on a drug called
phenoxybenzamine. This pill works by relaxing the longitudinal muscles in the vas deferens,
while still allowing the muscles to contract(MCI). Therefor the relaxation in the muscle
prevents the vas deferens (tube which sperm flows through) from pushing the sperm forward, not
allowing it to contribute seminal fluid; hence the name clean sheets pill. The use of this pill
can cause the risk of spreading semen-born STIs to decrease.
The fourth method shown is called Vasalgel, also known as RISUG. Vasalgel consists of
a hydrogel polymer that is injected into the vas deferens. The way the polymer works is by
blocking the sperm, and does not allow it to swim through the vas deferens. Ultimately, Vasalgel
will not affect neither ejaculation nor hormones. If men decide they do not want to be on male

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birth control any longer, another injection filled with baking soda, and water will flush out the
polymer gel, causing the man to be fertile again.
The fifth method shown is called JQ1, which is a type of drug that mainly focuses on the
BRDT gene. That specific gene (BRDT) is in fact the gene that is responsible for sperm
production. However when the BRDT gene is shut off sperm reproduction in the testes drops off
with the remaining sperm losing motility(MCI). This drug ultimately does not affect
testosterone or mating patterns.
In addition to the fourth method mentioned above (vasagel), John Brown, and Amy
Kaufeldt from Good Day Orlando on Fox 35 invite Dr.Jamin Brahmbhatt from the Pure Clinic
to discus the future of male birth control. Dr.Brahmbhatt begins by explaining what Vasalgel is,
and how this new form of male birth control is replacing the current vasectomy. The reason it is
said to replace the vasectomy procedure is because they both (vasectomy, and vasalgel) target
the same structure in the body, which is the vas deferens (Brahmbhatt, 2015). Dr.Brahmbhatt
compares the size of the vas deferens to the size of a spaghetti noodle, being 3-5 millimeters in
width (Brahmbhatt, 2015). In a vasectomy the doctors will simply cut each of the vas deferens,
not allowing sperm to flow through the tube any longer, as well as decreasing a mans sex drive.
On the other hand, with vasalgel they would be injecting the polymer fluid into the vas deferens,
deteriorating the sperm fluids from flowing through the vas deferens. The current vasectomy is
known to be non-reversible, however, there are very few doctors who have been able to reverse
this procedure, demanding a high amount of money from their patients to TRY and reverse it,
because it is not successful on all patients. With that being said, most patients fail to consider the
side effects after getting the procedure, like post vasectomy pains, which is chronic pain in the
groin, and testicles after(Brahmbhatt, 2015), along with other added risks. On the other hand the

MALE BIRTH CONTROL COULD BE ON THE RISE

vasalgel polymer is reversible through another injection consisting of baking soda and water, as
mentioned before, which makes this method very promising to men. Scientists are still
undergoing trials for this new method, trying to figure out all the side effects to this procedure,
along with making sure it is 100% reversible.

Figure 1. Demonstrates the way Vasalgel is injected, along with how it functions once in
the vas deferens.
Why do scientist believe that male birth control is important and in what way are
they (scientists) believing that lacking male birth control is affecting men, women, and
children?
In addition to male birth control as a whole, scientists believe that male birth control is
highly important for the entire society worldwide. Notably meaning that, it is not only
immensely important for men, but it is also just as important for women, and children around the
world. Several sources go into detail onto why certain scientists believe that lacking male birth
control is affecting the society worldwide.
Through an article called Sex, Lies and Population: A View from the North? by Wendy
Harcourt, Harcourt begins by discussing the problems within female birth control; implying that
women shouldnt be the only ones responsible for their reproductive cycle, adding that men

MALE BIRTH CONTROL COULD BE ON THE RISE

should be able to take responsibility for their reproduction as well, considering the fact that it
takes two to make a child. Within discussing the problems of female birth control Harcourt goes
into detail over the female pill, insinuating that although it has been the greatest liberation for
women since the 1970s(Harcourt, 1992) it has demonstrable risks of uterine cancer from
hormone replacement(Harcourt, 1992) adding that women are the main consumers of birth
control, and the primary caretakers of children. Implying that men are not held responsible for
any of those things, and in order for women to get ahead they are forced to take a male lifestyle. Going on to say, women are not given the possibility to make a socially or culturally
informed choice beyond potentially dangerous and intrusive medical interventions (Harcourt,
1992). Concerning the fact that women are not only harming their bodies by taking birth control,
but they have also been socially tied down to the image of not being successful due to having a
child. This then serves as an illustration towards introducing new birth control options for men
allowing it to change the social/political view.
As times have been slowly changing, Elaine A. Lissner is able to give society her
explanation as to why the world needs new methods for men, on two different credible sources.
The first source founded to explain her reasoning is in a book called Issues in Reproductive
Technology Edited by Helen Bequaert Holme. In Chapter 4: Frontiers in Nonhormonal Male
Contraceptive Research, Lissner relates female birth control options to a contraception
supermarket, implying that females have various birth control options to choose from; in which
they are able to make rational choices by choosing which one best benefits their body the most
(Lissner, p.53). In contrast to male birth control options because, men only obtain 3 options
(condom, vasectomy, withdrawal) (Lissner, p.53). This then argues that men dont have the same
control over their reproduction like women do, in addition to say that the responsibility of taking

MALE BIRTH CONTROL COULD BE ON THE RISE

birth control in a relationship solely falls on the woman (Lissner, p.54). Keeping all of this in
mind, Lissner discusses how providing easy and safe male birth control options can remove
the dependency of off of some women, which will then result in the increased ability to control
reproduction and spacing children can substantially improve womens and childrens health,
survival rates, and economic status (World Bank 1984, 87).
On a separate source seen in The New York Times, Elaine Lissner publishes an article
called Men Deserve Birth Control Options, Too. Throughout this entire article Lissner
continues to argue how the amount of choices men obtain is ridiculously small to the amount
women obtain. Beginning to say that within trying to improve family planning options they
have somehow overlooked half of humanity: men havent gotten a new option in more than a
century. Fighting that men want/deserve more options, Lissner proves her argument effective
by providing the community with a realistic story of a college student in a relationship; who has
came to a conclusion that he has found the right girl, and with that in mind he stopped using
condoms simply because his girlfriend is on the pill. Lissner continues her story by introducing
that half of college women forget to take roughly three pills per cycle this then causes the birth
control to be ineffective; allowing womens pregnancy chances to increase. In regards to this
realistic story, Lissner shows society how this simple story can result in an accident that can
change each of their future. However, in order to prevent that from happening men should be
able to play it safe by also covering their end.
How are studies proving male birth control effective and ineffective; and why hasnt
funding been provided to these scientist constructing research over this topic?
Considering the issues revolving around the female, and male reproductive systems;
scientists all around the world have been working on new options for men, as mentioned before

MALE BIRTH CONTROL COULD BE ON THE RISE

scientist hope that these new options will solve all or most issues over both reproductive systems.
These scientists have proved their new forms of male birth control to be effective through testing
and observation on how the substance is responding to the reproductive system, and other areas
of the body.
Rachael Rettner is able to go into detail on how a specific type of male birth control is
proving effective in a study involving mice, through an article posted on Fox News titled Male
birth control treatment could focus on sperm proteins not hormones. Rettner begins by stating
that this type of male birth control is known as the pill, adding that this specific type of male
birth control is possible through the use of blocking a single protein in sperm cells (Rettner,
2015). In which the protein that specific protein is recognized as calcineurin, normally found in
the sperm-producing cells of the testes (Rettner, 2015), also found in human sperm. Once
scientist figured that out, they decided to then genetically engineer the mice so that they lack a
gene that makes part of the calcineurin protein but is activated only in sperm-producing cells, so
later on when the mice constructed sexual intercourse they were prevented from getting the
female pregnant, causing them to be infertile. Although scientists did this genetic experiment to
prove to the public that this gene affects the sperm, they continued onto a separate experiment
where they gave the mice two drugs in which would block the calcineurin. One drug is known as
Cyclosporine A, and the second drug is known as FK506. After a few days of consuming the
drug, the mice formed defects in their sperm, which then allowed them to be come infertile,
proving once again that these specific drugs were able to prevent the female to get pregnant.
Once these mice were taken off the drug, the defects disappeared allowing them to regain
fertility; proving that this specific treatment is reversible, which is one of the main keys of the
new male birth control. Rettner also includes Patricia Morris in her article, which is the director

MALE BIRTH CONTROL COULD BE ON THE RISE

of a biomedical research program in New York. Morris is able to inform the public some more
over the pill by including that calcineurin is a plus for men, because it is non-hormonal, not
allowing the drug to mess with their sex drive; as known that hormones decrease your sex drive;
this then ensures the public that this is a safe, and recommended method for men (of course after
it is done going through human trials).
Although all of these new methods sound promising to men in the future, it will not get
any further due to the lack of knowledge men have over the products, along with the lack of
funds in research, and pharmaceutical companies not being interested in the product.
In an article called Carl Djerassi: I, a feminist father of the pill, foresee no male pill
seen on WIRED magazine, written by Carl Djerassi; Djerassi discusses the problems
encountered with putting the male pill out on the market. Going on to introduce that the cause of
availability regarding the male pill has nothing to do with scientific reasons, but instead with
economic reasons, as he states, scientifically, we know how to create the male Pill. Yet despite
much clinical research, the top 20 pharmaceutical companies have shown zero interest
(Djerassi, 2013), and when pharmaceutical companies arent interested, its not being promoted;
which then lacks publics interest since the public only tends to pay attention to the object being
advertised. Djerassi then adds that most women who seek being put on birth control dont
question whether the continued use of her pill would affect her fertility at 45, or 50 (Djerassi,
2013), on the other hand, you have many 20-year-old men who would require a guaranteed
answer (Djerassi, 2013). In which then drives pharmaceutical companies away because, in order
for scientists to actually provide a valid answer for these men, they need male birth control to
undergo evidence-based practice; by identifying risk factors for preventative pregnancies. Which
would not only be extremely expensive, but also time consuming. In addition to that, Djerassi

MALE BIRTH CONTROL COULD BE ON THE RISE

states that scientists and pharma are not interested in male contraception, but rather in the more
glamorous topic of impotence, meaning that men lose the ability to physically ejaculate;
hence the name for a pill called the clean-sheets pill. However, overtime this may change, but
for now this is normally causing men not to be interested in the product for that specific reason,
yet another reason most pharmaceutical companies arent interested in the product.
How are men (along with society) responding to these different forms of male birth
control?
Although pharmaceutical companies so far have shown little to no interest, men are all
over the topic. Some men say they would like to have better male birth control options and others
are frightened by the idea of it. Going into detail several sources over look the topic, taking
opinions from both men and women, analyzing how they are reacting to the possibilities of these
new products.
On HUFFPOST LIVE Alyona Minkovski, invites Elaine Lissner the executive director of
the Parsemus Foundation, Nikki Gloudeman who is the co-editor of a website called Ravishly,
and Gareth Cales who is a male willing to use Vasalgel (one of the male birth control options),
along with volunteering to be a part of human male trials. Minkovski starts by explaining what
Vasagel is, and then refers that in contrast with the pill Vasalgel is a single dosage; along with
being the most promising option for men so far, since it has gone the farthest in clinical trials.
Minkovski then proceeds by asking Gloudeman what are your biggest concerns when you hear
about this? (Minkovski, 2014), Gloudeman then responds by saying that she believes it is the
females role/responsibility to be in charge of taking birth control since it has been that way for
the past 50+ years, adding that she doesnt see something like this happening overnight due to it
being so deeply entrenched that it is the females job, which isnt necessarily the right way to
look at it but its going to be hard to reverse that social trend, going to show that this process

MALE BIRTH CONTROL COULD BE ON THE RISE

might take sometime but that she is on board with it happening. As then the camera switches
over to Cales so that he too can give his personal opinion. Cales implies that yes it has been the
womens role for quite some time now, but he also thinks that it is definitely time for men to start
taking the burden off of women, because it hasnt been fair(Cales, 2014). Adding that if he
wouldve known about this procedure a couple years back he wouldve said yes! Sign me up
right away(Cales, 2014), but now he is in a stage in his life where he recently got engaged, and
is planning on starting a family, but even though he is in that stage of his life, he comments that
after having one or two kids, he would then be completely on board at that point(Cales, 2014).
Cales continues to add to his point by stating that this is a great method because, even though
condoms are very effective, they are not 100% effective right, so having something else that is
more effective is a good option (Cales, 2014). To some men the sound of a shot in the vas
deferens sounds intimidating, because they have been so spoiled in the sense that they havent
had to deal with the discomfort of things like birth control, and they are finally facing the new
era where male birth control is hoped to soon take over female contraceptives. Cales then
responds to that comment by telling men to man up, stating that if men can handle the dentist
then this is a piece of cake.
In addition to the topic over women being the primary takers of birth control, an article
titled Would women trust their partners to use a male pill? by several authors who have
knowledge over the subject, state that in all centres over 65% of women thought that the
responsibility for contraception falls too much on women, and 90% in South Africa and
Scotland accepted the idea of having a male pill. However, 71% of Chinese women were not on
board with the idea of having hormonal male contraceptive, implying that ethnicity, and cultural
background has a lot to do with the decisions people make. Going on to say that they have also
taken surveys of what men think, and so far men from both developed and developing countries

MALE BIRTH CONTROL COULD BE ON THE RISE

have (Ringheim, 1993) agreed to use this hormonal pill when it becomes available to them.
These men have also recognized that contraceptive failure has far greater personal
consequences for women(Ringheim, 1993; Potts, 1996), implying the need for male birth
control, since female birth control has been doing too much damage to their bodies, after taking a
survey and finding out that 59-93% of women said they were not happy with their birth control
methods.
Although taking a look at a different perspective Gina Grad is asked the question of will
you trust a man to use this method? (vasagel) by Dave Rubin from the Rubin Report, and she
responds with hell no!, but although her answer is no, doesnt mean that she is against Vasagel.
Instead she adds that she is the one who ultimately has to worry about it, in a sense that when a
man says no, no, baby, its all good I left my magnum XLs at home but Im on the pill.. theres
no way I would trust that he took the pill adding that in that case she would cover her end by
making sure she is also taking some type of male birth control.
Conclusion
Looking at every aspect from what types of new methods are being offered to, why
scientists believe this is an important issue; along with how society is responding to these new
methods gives

the community a broader prospective to what is going on behind closed

doors over birth control. Scientists arent trying to keep these methods behind closed doors, and
that is why they are working so hard to make sure that their new options to solve unwanted
pregnancies are being heard. Scientist believe that the more their products are being investigated,
and the more people they have willing to try these new methods, the more pharmaceutical
companies are willing to open the doors to new male methods. In contrast, the community has
seen two sides of how women are responding to these methods, and how some men are
frightened by some of the issues with these new methods; in which we recall to pushing

MALE BIRTH CONTROL COULD BE ON THE RISE

pharmaceutical companies away. This report gives the community the causes and effects
involved in new methods, allowing the community to make an informed decision on how they
would prefer birth control to be handled in their personal life if these new male methods where to
be available in the market some day.

MALE BIRTH CONTROL COULD BE ON THE RISE

References
Bequaert, H. H., & Lissner E. Issues in Reproductive Technology: Contraceptive Choice: A
Multitude of Meanings. Retrieved from
https://books.google.com/books?
hl=en&lr=&id=UwuVeV2OZAC&oi=fnd&pg=PR9&dq=Issues+in+Reproductive+Techn
ology:
+An+Anthology.&ots=Ig3tQwZltW&sig=xgSV9sXGuHbo1otgWhKGbylSWTw#v=one
page&q&f=true
Brown, J. (news anchor), & Kaufeldt, A. (2015, February 16) Good morning Orlando [video
file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uv37YRH_Gdg
Djerassi, C. (2014, November 13). Carl Djerassi: I, a feminist father of the Pill, forsee no male
Pill. WIRED.
D. Rubin. (2013, December 6). The Rubin Report: Birth Control Pill For Men Coming Soon
[youtube]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tLGk2BdU0R0
Harcourt, W. (1992). Sex, Lies, and Population: A View from the North?. Working Paper Series
(3), (pp. 3-5) https://www.sdpi.org/publications/files/W3Sex,%20Lies%20and
%20Population.pdf
Lissner, E. (20014, January 2). Men Deserve Birth Control Options, Too. The New York Times.
Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2014/01/01/thinking-beyondthe-birth-control-pill/men-deserve-birth-control-options-too
Male Contraceptive Initiative, (2015). New methods. Retrieved from
http://www.malecontraceptive.org
Minkovski, A. (Host), & Lissner, E. (Guest), & Gloudeman, N. (Guest), & Cales, G.

MALE BIRTH CONTROL COULD BE ON THE RISE

(Guest). (2014). Will Men Actually Use Male Birth Control? [Video Tape].
United States: Huffpost Live.
Rettner, R. (2015, October 05). Male birth control treatment could focus on sperm proteins,
not hormones. Fox News. Retrieved from
http://www.foxnews.com/health/2015/10/05/male-birth-controltreatment-could-focus-on-sperm-proteins-not-hormones.html
Rinfheim, A. & Potts, H. (1999). Human Reproduction. Would women trust their partners to
use a male pill?, Volume 15 (3), (pp. 646-649).
http://humrep.oxfordjournals.org/content/15/3/646.full