Men generally have two contraception methods: condoms and vasectomies. However, biotechnology company Contraline plans to change that with the “world’s first” contraceptive implant for men, Adam, now in Phase 2 of clinical trials.
The contraception is a water-soluble hydrogel that is implanted in the sperm ducts, which prevents sperm from mixing with semen for at least two years. Contraline described it as “like the IUD [intrauterine device], for men.”
Here’s what we know about the male contraceptive implant so far:
How will the new male contraception work?
The implantable contraceptive is a gel that is injected underneath the scrotum, the pouch of skin that contains the testicles.
It is designed to block sperm from travelling through the vas deferens — the duct transporting sperm from the testicle to the urethra — without impacting sensation or ejaculation. The hydrogel then liquifies at the end of its lifespan, so sperm can continue to flow.
Contraline has shared the results of its Phase 1 clinical trial, revealing that Adam can successfully block sperm’s release for 24 months.
“This is really exciting because our goal since day one has been to create a two-year-long male contraceptive — that is what the demand is for,” Contraline founder and chief executive Kevin Eisenfrats told the Guardian.
“We have the first data to show that that's possible.”
How is it implanted?
Adam is inserted into the scrotum through an injection, under local anaesthesia. Contraline described the procedure as “minimally invasive” and said it should take “less than 30 minutes.”
Are there any risks?
The biotechnology company reported no sperm detected in the semen of the two participants in the trial, and no serious adverse effects have been recorded.
However, Adam is still in the early stages of clinical trials. The results from its Phase 1 clinical trial haven’t yet been published in a peer-reviewed journal, and no data shows whether the implant is effective in preventing pregnancy.
“Men would need to check at regular intervals whether Adam was still totally effective as the two-year time window came to its end,” Dr Gill Lockwood, a consultant for Fertility Family told the Standard..
“‘Home done’ sperm tests are not totally reliable, and, as a fertility doctor, I am aware that ‘ miraculous’ pregnancies occur with even very low sperm counts."
The long-term effects of Adam are also largely unknown. There is little data to confirm that fertility is restored after the two years. There are also concerns that the incision could cause scarring and even permanent sterilisation.
When will it be out?
According to Med City News, Contraline wants Adam approved by 2028, with the possibility of an Australian approval even sooner.
Why are male contraception methods so limited?
Adam shows promising results, but the news still begs the question of why it has taken so long to get another male contraception method on the market.
Dr Jeff Foster, Director of Men’s Health at Manual, told the Standard that part of the reason is practical.
“Unlike female contraception, which primarily targets ovulation (a once-a-month event), a male contraceptive would need to suppress millions of sperm, which would be potentially active every time you ejaculate,” he said.
“This means it would need to be something that permanently suppresses sperm production without interrupting key functions like testosterone.”
Dr Foster added that “societal expectation” is another factor that has put the onus of contraception on people with uteruses. “Women carry a baby and therefore there is often a historical expectation that birth control is therefore the women's responsibility,” he said.
“As a woman, would you trust a new partner who says they are taking birth control? Sadly, it is easier for a male partner to remove himself from parental responsibility than it is a woman.”
