Male contraceptive

Male contraceptives, also known as male birth control, are methods of preventing pregnancy that are used by males or people who produce sperm. The main forms of male contraceptives available today are condoms, vasectomy, and withdrawal, and these methods combined make up less than one-third of global contraceptive use.

New forms of male contraception are in clinical and preclinical stages of research and development, but as of 2024, none have reached regulatory approval for widespread use. Surveys indicate that around half of men in countries across the world are interested using a variety of novel contraceptive methods, and men in clinical trials for male contraceptives have reported high levels of satisfaction with the products. Modelling studies suggest that even partial adoption of new male contraceptives would significantly reduce unintended pregnancy rates around the globe, which remain at nearly 50%, even in developed countries where women have access to modern contraceptives. Unintended pregnancies are associated with negative socioeconomic, educational, and health outcomes for women, men, and the resulting children (especially in disadvantaged communities), and so the development of new male contraceptives has the potential to improve racial, economic, and gender equality across the world.