Whenever we talk about contraceptive methods, the most popular ones come to mind: condoms, pills, patches, etc. But if we want to know which ones are for the exclusive use of men, then the list is greatly shortened to end with only two methods: the condom and vasectomy, a definitive operation to prevent the irrigation of sperm. But is there any more? In this FastlyHealarticle we are going to discover the contraceptive methods for men that currently exist but we will also give you a preview of those that are investigating.
Table of Contents
Condoms
It is the best known and easiest to use male contraceptive method. In addition to preventing the conception of a pregnancy, this is the only method that currently exists for both men and women that is capable of preventing the spread of STDs, so it is the one that is most recommended in the case of not having a stable partner and practicing sporadic sex.
It can be found in pharmacies or specialized stores and they are for single use. The man must remove it from the bag and, with the penis erect, must place it on the glans to go down to the base of the penis, in the pubic area. Its effectiveness is 90% but you should always choose the correct size to prevent it from breaking during sex (especially if you have a very large or small penis, you should choose the one in your size).
When finished using it, it should be carefully removed so as not to stain and wrapped in a piece of toilet paper. Never throw it into the sink because it is polluting and, in addition, it can clog the pipes; throw it away covered with paper to make it more hygienic.
Vasectomy
The second contraceptive method for men that exists today is vasectomy, that is, a surgical operation that cuts the ducts that carry semen, thus ensuring that sperm do not come out at the time of ejaculation and, therefore, no there is risk of pregnancy. It is a definitive treatment because, once this operation is done, there is no going back as the ducts have been cut, so if you want to have children in the future, this option is not for you .
The efficacy of vasectomy is almost 100% but it does not have an immediate effect, that is, after practicing this intervention it is recommended that other contraceptive methods continue to be used for the following 3 months to avoid having an unwanted pregnancy.
As it is an operation, there are some risks associated with it. In general terms, you should know that there are hardly any serious complications, but if infection does occur, some signs may appear in your body that reveal that there is something that has not gone quite right. You should be attentive during the next few days to your body temperature, because if it increases to 38 degrees or more it may be due to an infection; You should also pay attention to the pain in the area, whether you secrete pus or blood, and so on.
In any of these cases, at FastlyHealwe recommend that you go immediately to a doctor to examine you; Also in this article we will tell you about the vasectomy postoperative so that you know it.
Future male contraceptives
As we have already said, currently there are only these two methods that we have just detailed, one is easier to apply than the other whose decision is much more decisive. But the family health industry continues to investigate to be able to offer new contraceptive methods designed exclusively for use in men and, thus, to be able to offer more varieties than just those mentioned.
Thus, in the future, contraceptives such as the following will appear:
- Male birth control pills
It is the method that is best developed and whose commercial sale may be closer than ever. Unlike the one used by women, these pills will have to be taken once every 3 months and the effectiveness is expected to reach almost 100%, therefore, it could be a revolution in this field.
These pills will inhibit sperm production thanks to the intake of male hormones such as testosterone, androgens or progestin. Although it is true that they can produce some side effects such as acne, weight gain, etc., but according to research it has been shown that they are very effective and that they do not affect fertility, so if in the future you want to have children, there won’t be any kind of problem.
- Patches for men
As among female contraceptives we find patches to prevent pregnancy, in the case of men there will also be this type of method that will work based on testosterone and will be applied directly to the skin. They work in the same way as pills but their use is monthly, that is, every month you have to change the patch without having to leave the rest week because men do not have menstruation.
What the first studies have detected has been that the increase in testosterone causes many men to suffer from mood swings, so there is still research on this topic so that it does not affect so much the way of living day to day.
- Skin implants
This type of contraceptive has an effectiveness that lasts for a whole year and is implanted in the arm thanks to an injection that is composed of androgens and progestin. The function that this type of method will have is to block the sperm, although its functionality is still being studied better since one of its problems is that the implant must be in the bicep.
- Reversible sperm inhibition
It is one of the most promising alternatives in research due to its high effectiveness and because it has hardly any side effects. It is known by the acronym RISUG ((Reversible Inhibition of Sperm Under Guidance) and its operation is very similar to that of vasectomy with the difference that it is reversible, that is, instead of directly cutting the ducts that carry sperm, it is performed an injection in this area that contains a polymer and that is responsible for destroying the sperm when it passes through these tubes.
Its duration is between 10 to 15 months and if during this time you want to try to have children, you can reverse the effect with another injection.
- Ultrasounds in the testicles
It is an alternative that is indicated to annul the spermatozoa and that they are not able to fertilize the ovum. Its duration is 6 months but there are still not enough studies to definitively develop this technique.
This article is merely informative, at FastlyHeal .com we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any type of diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any type of condition or discomfort.
If you want to read more articles similar to Contraceptive methods for men , we recommend that you enter our category of Male reproductive system .
I am a Surgeon with a diploma in comprehensive ultrasound and surgical care residency, an area I am specializing in. During the exercise of my profession, I have realized the need for patients to know the diseases they suffer, and I can tell you that a large part of their complications is due to a lack of information. Being a health web writer allows me to transmit my experience, without borders, to all those readers eager for knowledge, educate them in the prevention of diseases and promote a healthy lifestyle.