When the WVD team invited me to write a brief article about the future of male contraception for their newsletter, I jumped at the chance. I’m always excited to highlight the work of our grantees and colleagues, but I am especially happy to have an opportunity to express my sincere appreciation for WVD’s efforts in raising awareness about the need, demand, and global impact of vasectomy—one of only three male contraceptive options currently available (the others being condoms and withdrawal).
While vasectomy is a safe, effective, and appealing choice for many, there is still a significant need for a wider range of options, particularly reversible methods. Expanding the method mix would empower men to participate more fully in preventing unintended pregnancies on their own or alongside their partners, whether to supplement, alternate, or replace reliance on female methods.
So, what does the male contraceptive research and development space currently look like? In a word: robust. With many promising candidates in the pipeline, it can be helpful to understand how these products are typically categorized. Here are three key distinctions:
1, Hormonal vs. Non-Hormonal Methods
Hormonal methods interact with the endocrine system—the network of hormones that regulate many bodily functions. One prominent example is the Nestorone/Testosterone gel (NES/T), developed by Population Council, which blocks hormones needed for sperm production. NES/T recently completed a Phase II clinical trial and is a leading candidate for market introduction within the next 5–10 years.
Non-hormonal methods, as the name implies, avoid altering hormone levels. Instead, they target specific biological processes such as sperm development, motility, transport, or fertilization. These approaches offer promising alternatives for those who may prefer to avoid hormonal interventions.
2, Duration of Use
Contraceptive needs often change over the course of a person’s reproductive lifespan, so the length of effectiveness of a method is another key consideration. Some people may prefer long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs) that allow for years of protection with minimal effort. Others may opt for the flexibility of short-acting methods.
Male LARCs in development include injectable hydrogel products like Contraline’s ADAM, currently conducting clinical trials in Australia, and another of the front-runners for market introduction in the coming 5-10 years. Plan A is another hydrogel product that is being prepared for clinical studies in the near future. These methods are administered in a similar manner to the no-scalpel vasectomy technique promoted by WVD, further demonstrating how WVD’s efforts support male contraceptive innovation more broadly.
Short-acting methods—such as daily pills, topical gels, injectables, or on-demand pills—offer more flexibility but require consistent use. Examples include:
- YCT-529 currently in development by Your Choice Therapeutics (daily pill; currently conducting Phase II clinical trial in New Zealand)
- NES/T gel developed by Population Council (gel applied daily; completed Phase II clinical trial)
- An on-demand pill in development by Sacyl Pharmaceuticals (taken before sex with protection lasting a few hours; in preclinical studies).
3, Route of Administration
Considering how a method is delivered affects both user experience and product appeal. Examples of routes of administration for male contraceptives include:
- Topical gels (e.g., NES/T applied to the shoulder)
- Pills (e.g., daily (YCT-529) or on-demand (Sacyl))
- Injections (into the vas deferens (ADAM, Plan A) or under the skin)
- Implants (subdermal, similar to female options)
These examples represent just a sample of the innovations underway in the male contraceptive space. As shown in the figure below, many more candidates are in development. Maintaining a strong pipeline is essential not only to meet the diverse needs of potential users but also to account for the high failure rate in pharmaceutical development, where only about 10% of products make it onto the market.
While it is exciting to consider the future for male contraception, we also must remember that developing these products addresses a significant global health need. Estimates indicate that approximately half of pregnancies globally are unintended, and the responsibility for contraception continues to fall almost entirely on women due to the limited number of contraceptive options for men. The demand for more male contraceptive options is clear – with up to 76% of men surveyed across seven countries indicating that they would use a male contraceptive within the first year of it being available (up to 69% of female partners surveyed answered the same). So, as we celebrate Father’s Day, let’s also celebrate efforts underway by WVD and others working in the male contraceptive space to shed light on the need to better support men by expanding their reproductive health options, empowering them to determine if and when they are ready to become the best fathers they can be.
