Male Contraception Options

Only two male contraception options currently exist for men who want to prevent pregnancy, with one providing temporary protection and the other offering a permanent method of preventing pregnancy.

Condoms are the most commonly used type of male contraception.

With limited male contraception options available, the type of birth control you choose must depend on whether or not you want to father a child in the future.

Male condoms are thin sheaths of material, typically latex, that cover the penis during sexual intercourse to prevent pregnancy. The male condom also helps protect men and women from sexually transmitted diseases by preventing direct contact between the vagina and penis.

Advantages of Male Condoms:

Male condoms offer reliable, non-permanent protection against pregnancy, making them ideal for men who may later want children. They are highly portable, easy to use and obtain, and available without a prescription. Male condoms are also the most effective contraceptive option for preventing infection from sexually transmitted diseases and HIV.

Condoms have an effectiveness rate of 85 percent. This means that with proper use, 15 out of 100 couples will become pregnant when using condoms over the course of one year. According to the American Pregnancy Association, using a spermicide increases the effectiveness of male condoms to more than 95 percent.

Disadvantages of Male Condoms:

Traditional male condoms are made of latex, which may cause allergic reactions in some people. Latex-free condoms, such as those made from animal skin or polyurethane plastic, are not widely available and are generally more expensive than latex condoms. Moreover, lambskin condoms do not protect against HIV or other STDs.

Users of male condoms report decreased sensation during sex and many men experience difficulty finding condoms that fit comfortably. Improper fit is a significant concern with male condoms, as it increases the risk of the condom breaking or slipping off during sexual intercourse.

Male condoms have a short shelf life and begin to break down and weaken with time, making them less effective and increasing the risk of pregnancy. Latex condoms are also sensitive to heat and may weaken when stored above room temperature or in direct sunlight.

Latex condoms should not be used with oil-based lubricants, such as petroleum jelly or mineral oil, or in conjunction with female condoms.

Vasectomies are the only permanent contraception option for men. They prevent pregnancy by blocking the transport of sperm from the testes to the seminal fluid.

Advantages of Vasectomy:

Surgical vasectomies are more than 99 percent effective once semen testing shows a complete absence of sperm. The procedure is very safe and typically causes minimal or no side effects. Rarely, an infection may develop at the incision site that requires treatment with antibiotics. Recovery time is minimal.

Undergoing a vasectomy does not interfere with a man's ability to achieve or maintain an erection and the procedure does not cause any loss of sensation or result in fewer orgasms.

Disadvantages of Vasectomy:

Vasectomies do not provide immediate pregnancy prevention and it may take several months before sperm are no longer present in the seminal fluid. Men who wish to prevent pregnancy during this time must use an alternative form of birth control until test results confirm sterility.

Because vasectomies are a permanent form of contraception, only men who are certain they want no future children should undergo the procedure. While vasectomies are reversible in most cases, a reversal requires the use of general anesthesia and poses some risk to the man's health.

Vasectomies offer no protection against HIV or sexually transmitted diseases.

Research into two other male contraception options is currently underway.

Hormonal contraception for men involves the use of synthetic hormones to stop the development of healthy sperm in the testes. Research into this method of male contraception focuses on blocking the effects of two male hormones--testosterone and gonadotropin--in order to prevent the production of childbearing sperm.

A study published in the June 2009 issue of The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism found that monthly injections with testosterone are safe, reliable, and effective at preventing pregnancy.

Research into new forms of non-hormonal contraception for men is focusing on the vans deferens, which is the tube cut during a vasectomy to prevent the passing of sperm from the testes to the penis. One technique, called Reversible Inhibition of Sperm Under Guidance, involves injecting a synthetic gel directly into the vas deferens. This gel coats the lining of the tube and kills sperm as they pass through. When a man is ready to father a child, the gel is removable with a second injection.

Researchers are also looking at a number of similar procedures, but additional research is necessary to determine the safety and effectiveness of these male contraception options.

Currently, only two types of male contraception are available. This may soon change, however, as newer forms of birth control are determined safe and effective for long-term use. For more information on current research into male contraception options, visit the following websites:

• Palo Alto Medical Foundation: Male Contraception Research

• CONRAD: Non-hormonal approaches to male and female contraception

• MaleContraceptives.org: What are experimental male contraceptives?

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