A study conducted in 2020 revealed the lack of investment in the field of male contraceptives by pharmaceutical companies. Despite high interest from both sexes, non-permanent and non-surgical options are still lacking. The presence of these options could have an important impact on decreasing the rate of unwanted pregnancies.
Contralines, an American biotechnology 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. With the majority of couples globally dependent on female contraceptive options, a male version would offer millions of women an alternative to pesky hormone pills and annoying implants.
A hydrogel to spread non-permanent male contraceptives? Here's how it works
Contraline gel is injected into the man's vas deferens, blocking the journey of sperm, which degrade naturally. Even the hydrogel application itself degrades naturally over time, without contraindication.
The whole application process for these male contraceptives it takes approximately 30 minutes, and requires only mild local anesthesia. As happens to women today, men should obviously undergo periodic "restoration" sessions for the hydrogel.
The next steps
Contraline is currently recruiting participants for the trial in Australia and plans to expand clinical trials to other countries, including the United States, starting in early 2023. The company has also closed a first round of funding of more than $7 million dollars, which he intends to use for further experiments.
It's 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 enormous, for everyone. If the trial is successful, it is very likely that there will be refinements to this method, and that male contraceptives will be widely available in the near future.
And you, friends with an offshoot? Would you put it?
