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HERO ID
7426769
Reference Type
Journal Article
Title
Drug insight: Recent advances in male hormonal contraception
Author(s)
Amory, JK; Page, ST; Bremner, WJ; ,
Year
2006
Is Peer Reviewed?
1
Journal
Nature Clinical Practice Endocrinology & Metabolism
ISSN:
1745-8366
EISSN:
1745-8374
Publisher
NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP
Location
NEW YORK
Page Numbers
32-41
Language
English
PMID
16932251
DOI
10.1038/ncpendmet0069
Web of Science Id
WOS:000235166100004
URL
http://www.nature.com/articles/ncpendmet0069
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Abstract
As there are limitations to current methods of male contraception, research has been undertaken to develop hormonal contraceptives for men, analogous to the methods for women based on estrogen and progestogens. When testosterone is administered to a man, it functions as a contraceptive by suppressing the secretion of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) from the pituitary gland. Since these hormones are the main stimulatory signals for spermatogenesis, low levels of LH and FSH markedly impair sperm production. After 3-4 months of testosterone treatment, 60-70% of men no longer have sperm in their ejaculate, and most other men exhibit markedly diminished sperm counts. Male hormonal contraception is well tolerated, free of serious adverse side effects, and 95% effective in the prevention of pregnancy. Importantly, male hormonal contraception is reversible, with sperm counts usually recovering within 4 months of the discontinuation of hormone treatment. Because exogenous testosterone administration alone does not completely suppress sperm production in all men, researchers have combined testosterone with second agents, such as progestogens or gonadotropin-releasing-hormone antagonists, to further suppress secretion of LH and FSH and improve suppression of spermatogenesis. Recent trials have used combinations of long-acting injectable or implantable forms of testosterone with progestogens, which can be administered orally, by injection or by a long-acting implant. Such combinations suppress spermatogenesis to zero without severe side effects in 80-90% of men, with near-complete suppression in the remainder of individuals. One of these testosterone and progestogen combination regimens might soon bring the promise of male hormonal contraception to fruition.
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