World’s First Male Contraceptive Injection Could be Available Soon in India

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has successfully completed clinical trials of the world’s first injectable male contraceptive, according to The Hindustan Times. The contraceptive is effective for 13 years before it loses its potency.

“The product is ready, with only regulatory approvals pending with the Drugs Controller. The trails are over, including extended, phase 3 clinical trials for which 303 candidates were recruited with 97.3% success rate and no reported side-effects. The product can safely be called the world’s first male contraceptive,” Dr. RS Sharma, senior scientist with ICMR, said.

The product, called reversible inhibition of sperm under guidance (RISUG), is designed to work as an alternative to a surgical vasectomy. This method requires a polymer be injected directly into the vas deferens (the little tubes on the outside of the testicle that transport sperm to the ejaculatory ducts and towards the penis). “Non-surgical procedures are always preferred over surgical procedures because they will be safer and less invasive. More men are likely to opt for it,” Dr. Anup Kumar, head of urology and renal transplant department at Safdarjung Hospital, said.  

Indian scientists have been working to develop effective RISUGs since the 1970s, but this is the closest they’ve come yet to bringing a product to market.