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Injectable medications have been considered better than vasectomy because they are less painful and reversible.
An unprecedented male contraceptive injectable, effective for up to 10 years, is in the final stages of testing and is expected to be ready in 12 months. That’s what scientists at the Indian Institute of Technology promise. The drug called Risug (Reversible Sperm Suppression Under Control) was considered better than a vasectomy because it was less painful and reversible.
The product is a gel that damages the tails of individual sperm, preventing them from fertilizing the egg. A test conducted on 300 volunteers showed an effectiveness of 97%. The process can be reversed at any time by injecting water and baking soda.
Risug has completed several human clinical trials in India and is awaiting approval from the country’s medical authorities. A male contraceptive called Vasalgel that works in a similar way is under development in the United States.
The great advantage of this type of contraceptive is that, unlike most female contraceptives, they are not hormonebased. Attempts to develop a male birth control pill based on sex hormones have failed due to possible side effects such as acne breakouts and changes. Both are common side effects of pills for women.