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Men Ready for Own Contraception, Funding Lags Behind
23 Sep
Summary
- Over half of men surveyed would use new male contraceptives within a year.
- Lack of pharmaceutical industry funding is the main barrier to market entry.
- On-demand pills and daily gels are among preferred male contraceptive options.
A new survey spanning seven European countries reveals that men are highly receptive to novel male contraceptive methods. Over half of the surveyed men indicated they would use a new male contraceptive within a year of its approval, with only a small percentage expressing absolute refusal.
Despite strong interest, with preferences leaning towards on-demand pills taken before sex and daily hormonal gels, these innovations face considerable delays. The primary obstacle identified by researchers is a lack of funding, particularly from the pharmaceutical sector, which has historically been less involved in contraceptive development.
Currently, men's contraceptive options are limited to condoms and vasectomy, while women have a wide array of choices. The development pipeline includes eight novel products, such as daily pills, hormonal gels, and thermal silicone rings, but funding challenges are keeping them from market availability.
Experts emphasize that bridging this funding gap is crucial to expanding contraceptive choices and reducing the disproportionate burden on women. The World Health Organization also supports expanding male contraceptive options through its new Target Product Profiles guide.
