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Reliable Male Contraceptive In the Works

Posted by kdawson on from the aichmophobia-belonephobia dept.

Hugh Pickens writes "The BBC reports that recent tests in China indicate a monthly injection of testosterone, which works by temporarily blocking sperm production, could be as effective at preventing pregnancies as the female pill or condoms. In trials in China only one man in 100 fathered a child while on the injections, and six months after stopping the injections the mens' sperm counts returned to normal. The lead researcher said that if further tests proved successful, the treatment could become widely available in five years' time. Previous attempts to develop an effective and convenient male contraceptive have encountered problems over reliability and side effects, such as mood swings and a lowered sex drive. However, despite the injection having no serious side effects, almost a third of the 1,045 men in the two-and-a-half year study did not complete the trials; no reason was given for this."

16 of 519 comments (clear)

  1. Possibly because it worked? by powerlord · · Score: 5, Funny

    ... almost a third of the 1,045 men in the two-and-a-half year study did not complete the trials; no reason was given for this."

    however their recent child support filings may lend a clue.

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    1. Re:Possibly because it worked? by ByOhTek · · Score: 5, Funny

      Actually, if I remember correctly, excess testosterone gets converted into estrogen doesn't it?

      I suspect those that stopped... Didn't like man boobs.

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      Self proclaimed typo king, and inventor of the bear destroying coffee table (patent not pending).
    2. Re:Possibly because it worked? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      The real news here is the medical breakthrough hidden by the researchers: the 1/3 of the men that quit the treatment did so because they got pregnant.

    3. Re:Possibly because it worked? by Maxo-Texas · · Score: 4, Funny

      I would not want poked with a giant needle on a plane.
      I would not want poked with a giant needle on a train.
      I would not want poked
      Oh yes I would not.
      Wanting to be poked would be quite insane!

      --
      She was like chocolate when she drank... semi-sweet at first and then increasingly bitter.
    4. Re:Possibly because it worked? by Joce640k · · Score: 4, Funny

      More likely:

      a) They were married and the wife started nagging for a baby.

      or

      b) They weren't married and getting jabbed with a huge needle once a month "just in case I get lucky" gets old real fast.

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  2. Huh? by lars_boegild_thomsen · · Score: 4, Funny

    And this story was posted to /. why?

    1. Re:Huh? by MadKeithV · · Score: 5, Funny

      Because /. is home to a lot of people that use the other reliable Male Contraceptive: Linux.

    2. Re:Huh? by sFurbo · · Score: 5, Funny

      Ha, we foiled your plan by modding you insightful!

  3. Morning after? by John+Hasler · · Score: 5, Funny

    But where is the male morning after pill?

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    1. Re:Morning after? by MichaelSmith · · Score: 4, Funny

      But where is the male morning after pill?

      Fire and forget.

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      http://michaelsmith.id.au
    2. Re:Morning after? by Shakrai · · Score: 5, Funny

      But where is the male morning after pill?

      It's called the over-the-counter female morning after pill and breakfast in bed ;) "Here honey, I love you so much that I made you breakfast!"

      Yeah, I'm going straight to hell.....

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  4. Hah, they dropped out because by new+death+barbie · · Score: 5, Funny

    "almost a third of the 1,045 men in the two-and-a-half year study did not complete the trials; no reason was given for this"

    Nobody told them WHERE the injection goes.

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    1. Re:Hah, they dropped out because by Inda · · Score: 5, Funny

      Injections (plural). You need to have two. One in each...

      Oh my Lord. Brings tears to my eyes just thinking about it.

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  5. Re:quit rate... by Shakrai · · Score: 5, Funny

    2.5 years of *injections* and 1/3 did not complete the term of the trials. Not surprising. Make it in pill form and you may have a higher completion rate...

    But on the bright side we've created a form of contraception that heroin addicts can get behind ;)

    --
    I want peace on earth and goodwill toward man.
    We are the United States Government! We don't do that sort of thing.
  6. Re:Only 99% by Opportunist · · Score: 4, Funny

    So do I, but that's unfortunately no solution for the heterosexuals amongst us.

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  7. Re:1% ! by oodaloop · · Score: 4, Funny

    Yeah it's 100% effective for some and 0% for others. What we're trying to figure out is how many there are of each.

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