Male Contraceptives 08

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Introduction : What is contraception?

Contraception or birth control is the term used for the prevention of pregnancy.

There are many kinds of contraceptives,the male and female ones. They are both very efficient but work in different ways. We're going to explain the male ones.

Contraception (birth control) prevents pregnancy by interfering with the normal process of ovulation, fertilization, and implantation. There are different kinds of birth control that act at different points in the process.

What are the different contraceptives for men and how do they work?

There are many contraceptives for men but the most used are the following ones. We didn't consider sterilization (vasectomy) in it, because it's an entire subject.

The condom

A condom is a device most commonly used during sexual intercourse. It is put on a man's erect penis and physically blocks ejaculated semen from entering the body of a sexual partner. Condoms are used to prevent pregnancy and transmission of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs—such as gonorrhea, syphilis, and HIV).

In the modern age, condoms are most often made from latex, but some are made from other materials such as polyurethane, or lamb intestine. As a method of contraception, male condoms have the advantage of being inexpensive, easy to use, having few side-effects, and of offering protection against sexually transmitted diseases.

Condoms have been used for at least 400 years. Since the nineteenth century, they have been one of the most popular methods of contraception in the world. While widely accepted in modern times, condoms have generated some controversy.

Condoms are widely recommended for the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). They have been shown to be effective in reducing infection rates in both men and women. While not perfect, the condom is effective at reducing the transmission of HIV, genital herpes, genital warts, syphilis, chlamydia, gonorrhea, and other diseases.

Causes of failure

Condoms may slip off the penis after ejaculation, break due to improper application or physical damage (such as tears caused when opening the package), or break or slip due to latex degradation (typically from usage past the expiration date, improper storage, or exposure to oils). The rate of breakage is between 0.4% and 2.3%, while the rate of slippage is between 0.6% and 1.3%. Even if no breakage or slippage is observed, 1–2% of women will test positive for semen residue after intercourse with a condom. "Double bagging," using two condoms at once, also increases the risk of condom failure.

Different modes of condom failure result in different levels of semen exposure. If a failure occurs during application, the damaged condom may be disposed of and a new condom applied before intercourse begins - such failures generally pose no risk to the user. One study found that semen exposure from a broken condom was about half that of unprotected intercourse; semen exposure from a slipped condom was about one-fifth that of unprotected intercourse.

The male pill

However, scientists are currently working to develop a male contraceptive pill that will allow men to control their fertility, in much the same way that the female contraceptive pill allows women to.

How will it work? The male contraceptive pill is likely to work by blocking sperm production, using a combination of the sex hormones progestogen and testosterone. It is likely to become available as either a single pill or a longer-acting implant.

However, as it only takes a single sperm to create a new life, scientists face a considerable challenge in trying to develop a pill that is 100% effective in every man, all of the time.

It is hoped that there will be a male contraceptive pill available in the UK within the next few years.

The spermicide

• The spermicide alone : A foam, cream, jelly, film, or suppository, or tablet containing nonoxynol-9. Depending on product, it is inserted between five and 90 minutes before intercourse. It is usually left in place at least six to eight hours after.

References

http://www.malecontraceptives.org/

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