The first contraceptive injection for men is coming soon

Men will be able to use long-term birth control pills on their own for the first time, instead of using condoms, within the next three years, according to a new announcement by a non-profit organization.

Vasalgel is a "high molecular weight hydrogel" injected into the vas deferens to block sperm, helping to prevent conception. Photo: Health News

Trials of Vasalgel, the first contraceptive injection for men, are showing promising results. Developers hope the new drug will be cheap, reversible and long-lasting.

Vasalgel is a "high molecular weight hydrogel" injected into the vas deferens - the tube through which sperm travel to the penis. The gel blocks sperm, thereby preventing conception.

Vasalgel is developed by the Parsemus Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to developing low-cost medical solutions. They say the injectable contraceptive works similarly to a vasectomy, but is less invasive because it doesn’t require surgery. The vas deferens is blocked by the gel, rather than cut.

What's more, reversing the effects of Vasalgel is relatively easy. If a man wants to lift the "embargo" on his "seeds", he can inject another high-molecular gel compound into the vas deferens to knock the Vasalgel out.

In the current baboon trials, three male baboons were injected with Vasalgel. Each male was then placed with 10 to 15 females of the same species. After six months, none of the females became pregnant, although the trial is still ongoing.

The Parsemus Foundation says it will have more information on Vasalgel's effectiveness later this year. If all goes well, it plans to start human clinical trials next year.

Vasalgel works on a similar principle to RISUG, another contraceptive injection under development. Photo: CCTV

Vasalgel is based on another male contraceptive pill in development, called RISUG. Both Vasalgel and RISUG work by using gel to block the vas deferens, but they are completely different formulations.

While the Parsemus Foundation does not disclose how long the Vasalgel injections as contraceptives last, the RISUG injections are advertised as being effective for up to 10 years.

"If everything goes well and we get enough public support, we hope to bring Vasalgel to market in 2016-2017," said a spokesperson for the Parsemus Foundation, which will seek funding for human clinical trials next year.

In addition to Vasalgel and RISUG, another contraceptive for men in the early stages of development is the "dry orgasm" pill. This pill is designed to be taken before sex, helping men "climax" without ejaculating. That means men still experience the same orgasm, but without releasing semen.

The two inventors, Dr. Nnaemeka Amobi and Dr. Christopher Smith from Kings College London (UK), said that this contraceptive pill will start to take effect within a few hours of taking the pill and will be ineffective in about 24 hours.

Men could take the drug only when needed, before sex. It is also thought to reduce the risk of a man passing HIV on to his sexual partners.

The team is looking to partner with a pharmaceutical company to speed up the process of bringing this product to market.

According to vietnamnet