A study conducted in 2020 found the lack of investment in male contraceptives by pharmaceutical companies. Despite high interest from both genders, non-permanent and non-surgical options are still lacking. The presence of these options could have a major impact on decreasing the rate of unintended pregnancies.
Contralines, an American biotech company, seems to have found an effective solution to the problem: it's called ADAM. ADAM is an injectable hydrogel that provides male contraception similar to that of an intrauterine device (IUD), but much more effective and long-lasting. Since most couples globally depend on female contraceptive options, a male version would offer millions of women an alternative to pesky hormonal pills and annoying implants.
A hydrogel to spread non-permanent male contraceptives? Here's how it works
Contraline gel is injected into the vas deferens of the man, blocking the journey of sperms, which degrade naturally. Even the hydrogel application itself degrades naturally over time, without contraindication.
The whole application process for these male contraceptives it is about 30 minutes, and requires only a mild local anesthetic. As is the case with women today, men should of course also undergo periodic "recovery" sessions for the hydrogel.
The next steps
Contraline is currently recruiting trial participants in Australia and plans to expand clinical trials to other countries, including the United States, starting in early 2023. The company also closed a first round of funding worth more than $7 million. dollars, which he intends to use for further experiments.
It is encouraging to see that at least one biotech company is developing more effective and less invasive male contraceptives. The potential impact of widespread adoption of these products would be huge — for everyone. If the trials are successful, it is very likely that there will be refinements of this method, and that male contraceptives will be widely available in the near future.
And you, friends with an offshoot? Would you put it?
