Men really DO remember to take the male ‘Pill’, say doctors

Men really DO remember to take the male ‘Pill’ despite women’s fears that they’ll forget to take it, say doctors

  • In study involving 35 men aged 18 to 50, 90% remembered to use a contraceptive gel every day for a year
  • The gel, rubbed on the shoulder, suppresses testosterone more effectively than tablets so men produce little or no sperm
  • No partners of those in the study became pregnant and men who stopped using it saw their sperm counts return to normal 
  • Prof Richard Anderson of Edinburgh Uni hopes to expand trial to 450 men 

Men can at last be trusted to take their equivalent of the Pill, say scientists.

A major hurdle in developing a daily male contraceptive has been women’s fear that their partners will forget to take it.

But in a study involving 35 men aged 18 to 50, 90 per cent remembered to use a contraceptive gel every day for a year.

The gel, rubbed on the shoulder, suppresses testosterone more effectively than tablets so men produce little or no sperm.

Men can at last be trusted to take their equivalent of the Pill, say scientists. A major hurdle in developing a daily male contraceptive has been women’s fear that their partners will forget to take it. (File photo)

No partners of those in the study became pregnant and men who stopped using it saw their sperm counts return to normal.

Professor Richard Anderson of Edinburgh University now hopes to expand the trial to 450 men. 

He said: ‘These results show men can be relied upon. It is not fair that the tedious chore of having to take a pill every day… falls only on women.’

But consultant gynaecologist Charles Kingsland of CARE Fertility said: ‘If I were a woman, I would not necessarily trust a man to take his contraception. 

‘Part of the reason women consistently take contraception is because if they get pregnant, they will be the one that has to give birth.’

Consultant gynaecologist Charles Kingsland of CARE Fertility said: 'If I were a woman, I would not necessarily trust a man to take his contraception.' (File image)

Consultant gynaecologist Charles Kingsland of CARE Fertility said: ‘If I were a woman, I would not necessarily trust a man to take his contraception.’ (File image)