For nearly five decades, Indian doctor Sujoy Kumar Guha has worked to perfect a male contraceptive. His injectable contraceptive, known as RISUG, temporarily blocks sperm from passing through the vas deferens, the tubes that carry sperm from the testicles. Guha came up with the idea in the early 1970s and has been working on it ever since. The contraceptive remains under development in India after decades of research, regulatory review, and bureaucratic obstacles.
Companies in the United States are now pursuing their own versions of male contraceptives, racing to bring "vas-occlusive" contraceptives to market. Next Life Sciences is developing Plan A, which uses Vasalgel, tracing its lineage directly to Guha's work. The nonhormonal contraceptive is designed to last about 10 years and can be reversed with a second injection of sodium bicarbonate solution. This approach could provide men with a long-lasting and reversible birth control option.
The interest in male contraception is growing, with 55,000 men on Next Life Sciences' interest list. One Plan A video received 4.5 million views overnight, according to the company's founder, L.R. Fox. He describes the interest as "explosive" and notes that men won't have to worry about daily compliance, which is a significant issue with current birth control methods. This growing interest could lead to a shift in the way birth control is practiced.
Another company, Contraline, is developing ADAM, a nonhormonal hydrogel that blocks sperm passage through the vas deferens. The hydrogel is initially designed to degrade on its own over two years. Brian T. Nguyen, an OB/GYN and male-contraception researcher, is optimistic about broadscale adoption of reversible male contraception. However, he notes that accessibility and affordability will be significant factors in its adoption.
Currently, men have only two widely available contraceptive methods: condoms and vasectomies. Women have more than a dozen options, many with side effects. A 2024 KFF survey found that 82 percent of reproductive-age women had used contraception in the prior 12 months. Among contraceptive users who said they would prefer another method, 23 percent said they prefer that their partner get a vasectomy. This highlights the need for more male contraceptive options.
A new documentary, "Give It a Shot," examines the long-running effort to bring a reversible male contraceptive to market and why responsibility for birth control has fallen heavily on women. The documentary features Vaishali Sinha, who traveled to India to explore the history and development of RISUG. She notes that 500 men in India participated in a clinical trial, and the contraceptive has been shown to be effective and safe.
Both Plan A and ADAM are making progress down the regulatory path in the US. Next Life Sciences recently completed Phase 2 clinical trials, with results showing "incredible safety and efficacy." The company aims to win approval from the Food and Drug Administration in 2028 and is laying the groundwork for a worldwide launch. Contraline has also received $92.5 million in financing to support its development of ADAM.
Key points
- Male contraceptives could provide men with a long-lasting and reversible birth control option.
- The interest in male contraception is growing, with thousands of men on interest lists.
- Reversible male contraception could lead to a shift in the way birth control is practiced and promote gender equity.
