Men in India could have an injection into their penis as a form of birth control
Men in India may soon be offered an injection into their penis as a form of birth control.
The world-first reportedly protects against unwanted pregnancies in 97.3% of cases.
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A chemical is said to get injected into the vans deferns, the tube that carries sperm from the testicles during ejaculation.
This then “blocks” sperm from exiting the body for up to 13 years.
With no safety concerns, its manufacturers expect the injection to be available in as little as six months.
The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) is behind the jab, which recently completed the last stage of its clinical trials, the Hindustan Times reported.
It has now been sent to the Drug Controller General of India for approval before it can become widely available in the Asian country.
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“The product is ready, with only regulatory approvals pending with the Drugs Controller,” Dr RS Sharma, of the ICMR, said.
“The trials are over, including extended, phase 3 clinical trials for which 303 candidates were recruited with a 97.3% success rate and no reported side effects.
“The product can safely be called the world’s first male contraceptive.”
Known as reversible inhibition of sperm under guidance (RISUG), the injection’s effectiveness is reportedly down to a chemical called Styrene Maleic Anhydride.
It is unclear if it protects against sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
A similar jab, Vasalgel, is being developed in the US but is in earlier stages of development.
Past attempts to create such an injection have failed due to “intolerable” side effects, like acne and mood swings.
Many women have pointed out they endure similar complications with the pill.
With this jab reportedly having no side effects, the ICMR expects approval will take between six and seven months.
More than half (53.5%) of couples in India use contraception, with most involving female sterilisation, the Hindustan Times reported.
Despite the injection being administered under anaesthetic, not all locals are convinced.
A 24-year-old writer told Vice he would “rather not have sex at all” then have the jab is his nether regions.
And a brand manager, 33, added “it’s too graphic...our balls are like family jewels”.
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Women often shoulder the burden of contraception, with two-thirds of those aged 20-to-24 in the UK taking the pill, according to the sexual-health charity FPA.
Sterilisation is more common in men, however, with 28,000 vasectomies being carried out in NHS hospitals in 2005.
This is compared to 18,000 female sterilisations.
In the US, 15.9% of women aged 15-to-44 use the pill, while 8% rely on the “coil” or implant, and 14.3% are sterilised, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Talk of a “male pill” has been circulating for some time, with several drugs in development.
But with men not having to contend with pregnancy, many women worry how strict their other half will be at taking the contraception as prescribed.
And by taking control out of a woman’s hands, she may also be at risk if she engages in casual “one night stands”.
