MALE CONTRACEPTION UPDATE

Call for bloggers pays off- keep it up!

Last month we issued a call for newsletter readers to put their two cents in the comment section when they see a male contraception story in the online press. It paid off! Check out some of the intelligent comments on two recent blog postings:

Contraception and Sacrifice
The American Prospect, 15 April

Should men care that male birth control options are languishing?
US News & World Report, 28 March

In the news

Coverage of male contraception research has become so pervasive that we will only list the highlights! This month saw the following stories in addition to continued coverage of the recent hormonal male contraception meta-analysis:

US News & World Report covers hormonal research, testicular warming (simple wet heat), the IVD, and vitamin A receptor blocker research. Dr. Ronald Swerdloff of UCLA points out the difficulties in getting pharmaceutical industry support for a drug meant to be used in large numbers of healthy individuals, and MCIP's director comments on the need for more a more focused rather than scattershot effort.
Male Contraception: Progress Slow but Steady
US News & World Report, 12 April

Dr. Kirsten Vogelsong of the World Health Organization is interviewed by World Radio Switzerland about the recent hormonal contraception news. "“I do feel like there is hope for having a male hormonal contraceptive available — something that would be safe, effective and acceptable to men and their partners.” The interview reports that WHO is planning clinical trials with hormonal contraception in seven countries, with 400 couples to test the hormones for a year.
Study: Hormonal birth control for men could be effective as vasectomy
World Radio Switzerland, 28 March

Dr. Joseph Hall's work on blocking sperms' ability to recognize an egg is covered in the local press. He had a 92% success rate in rats and is searching for a way to increase that. Eighteen years have gone into the research so far, and he estimates 2-3 more years before testing in larger animals.
Scientists work to perfect male birth control pill
WVEC.com, 26 March

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Editors

Elaine Lissner, Director of the Male Contraception Information Project (MCIP)
Email: info@NewMaleContraception.org
MCIP is entirely nonprofit and works in three areas: raising public awareness of promising nonhormonal male contraceptives, advocating increased and expedited government research, and serving as a resource for journalists who wish to write about the subject.

Kirsten Thompson, Director of the Male Contraception Coalition (MCC)
Email: info@MaleContraceptives.org
The Coalition’s objectives are to speed the development of new male contraceptives through increased legislative and institutional support, to raise funds for applied male contraception research and development, and to educate the public about the work of the research community.