Clinical trials conducted by Chinese researchers on 1,045 healthy, fertile men found that testosterone could be an effective means of contraception.
Scientists injected 500 milligrams of the male hormone into participants once per month for a period of 30 months.
The results demonstrated that there were pregnancies among couples in the study at a ratio of 1.1 per 100 men.
There were no significant side effects observed during treatment, and almost all participants, except two, regained their fertility once the testosterone injections were stopped.
“For couples who cannot, or prefer not to use only female-oriented contraception, options have been limited to vasectomy, condom and withdrawal. Our study shows a male hormonal contraceptive regimen may be a potential, novel and workable alternative,” explained Dr. Yi-Qun Gu of the National Research Institute for Family Planning in Beijing.