Male contraceptive
method of preventing pregnancy that solely involves the male physiology
Male contraceptives, also known as male birth control, are methods of preventing pregnancy by interrupting the function of sperm. The most commonly used forms of male contraception are condoms, vasectomy, and withdrawal, which together represented 20% of global contraceptive use in 2019. New forms of male contraception are in research and development, but as of 2025, none have achieved regulatory approval for widespread use. They could be available before 2030, assuming smooth development and clinical trials.
These new methods include topical creams, daily pills, injections, long-acting implants, and external devices, with both hormonal and non-hormonal mechanisms of action. Some could even be unisex, or usable by any person, because they could theoretically incapacitate mature sperm in the man's body before ejaculation, or incapacitate sperm in the body of a woman after insemination.
Background
In the 21st century, surveys indicated that around half of men in countries across the world have been interested in using a variety of novel contraceptive methods, and men in clinical trials for male contraceptives have reported high levels of satisfaction with the products. Women worldwide have also shown a high level of interest in new male contraceptives, and though both male and female partners could use their own contraceptives simultaneously, women in long-term relationships have indicated a high degree of trust in their male partner's ability to successfully manage contraceptive use.
A modelling study from 2018 suggested 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 historically marginalized communities), and 60% of unintended pregnancies end in abortions, many of which are unsafe and can lead to women's harm or death.
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This entry incorporates text from “Male contraceptive” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.