Endocrine Society

ENDO 2024: New male birth control gel effective within one month, study finds

June 7, 2024

Researchers with the National Institutes of Health’s Contraceptive Development Program presented encouraging phase 2b trial results on a male contraceptive gel combining testosterone and segesterone acetate* (Nestorone). The gel successfully suppressed sperm production faster than similar experimental hormonal-based methods for male birth control.

According to an Endocrine Society press release, 222 men applied the gel (containing 8 mg segesterone acetate, 74 mg testosterone) daily to each shoulder blade for at least 3 weeks. Suppression of sperm production was measured at 4-week intervals. Researchers deemed the effective threshold for contraception at one million or fewer sperm per milliliter of semen. Most study participants (86%) reached this sperm count by week 15.

Among those men, sperm production was suppressed at a median time of less than 8 weeks of segesterone-testosterone treatment.

The sperm suppression stage of the trial is complete, according to the press release. The study continues to test the contraceptive’s effectiveness, safety, acceptability and reversibility of contraception after treatment stops.

*Segesterone acetate is a component of the Annovera vaginal contraceptive ring.

Source:

(2024, June 2). Endocrine Society. New male birth control gel takes effect sooner than similar contraceptive methods. [Press release]. https://www.endocrine.org/news-and-advocacy/news-room/2024/endo-2024-press-blithe