AUSTRALIAN scientists say that they have developed an injectable male contraceptive that has proved 100 per cent effective.

In a study, 55 men were given a hormone implant containing a combination of the male hormone testosterone and progestin, which is used in female contraceptive pills, in an attempt to “switch off” sperm production.

None of the men showed side-effects and none of their partners became pregnant, scientists from the Anzac Research Institute in Sydney said.

David Handelsman said on the institute’s website: “This is the first time a reversible male contraceptive that will suppress sperm production reliably and reversibly has been fully tested by couples.

“We used a hormonal implant to replace testosterone given every four months and the progestin DMPA was injected every three months.

“This shows the way for a final product to be a single injection containing testosterone and a progestin which will easily be given by local doctors on a three to four-monthly basis and still maintain male sexual health.”

Previous attempts to develop an effective male contraceptive have encountered problems over reliability and side-effects, such as mood swings and a lowered sex drive.

Professor Handelsman added: “As researchers we have done as much as is possible. It is now over to the companies to develop a convenient and acceptable product. We have proved that it is possible for them to do it.”

Attracting the interest of drug companies may prove tricky. Other teams have proved the feasibility of similar “male pills” but companies have not rushed to commercialise them.

The problem of proving safety and efficacy in an increasingly litigious society is the main discouragement. Introducing the female Pill today would be a great deal more difficult than it was 40 years ago. A male contraceptive treatment faces the same if not greater hurdles, with the risk of huge lawsuits if it proves to have ill-effects 20 years later.

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