Male contraceptive jab almost 100 per cent effective and it can increase libido

The injection has been shown to be almost 100 per cent effective, and may also increase libido. Photo / Getty Images

A contraceptive injection for men has been shown to be almost 100 per cent effective, and may also increase libido.

The hormone-based jab is designed to lower sperm counts by acting on the brain's pituitary gland.

Over a year-long trial, nearly 96 per cent of couples relying on the injection to prevent unplanned pregnancies found it to be effective. During this time, only four pregnancies occurred among the men's partners.

However, researchers said more work was needed to address the treatment's reported side effects, which included depression and other mood disorders, muscle pain and acne. However it did also increase libido.

Dr Mario Festin, from the World Health Organisation in Geneva, Switzerland, said: "The study found it is possible to have a hormonal contraceptive for men that reduces the risk of unplanned pregnancies in the partners of men who use it.

"Our findings confirmed the efficacy of this contraceptive method previously seen in small studies."

The injections contained a long-acting form of progestogen, a hormone that has the effect of blocking sperm production controlled by the pituitary gland.

Nearly 300 men were given injections every two months, which reduced sperm count to one million per millilitre or fewer within 24 weeks. At the end of the trial, three-quarters of the men said they would be willing to continue using the contraceptive jab.

Prof Allan Pacey at the University of Sheffield said: "There is certainly an unmet need for an effective reversible contraceptive for men, along the lines of the hormonal contraceptive for women.

"However, none of the preparations that have been developed and tested to date have managed to become a commercial reality for one reason or another.

"In this latest study, the authors used a combination of hormones (progesterone and testosterone) to try and take the science forward. Using long-acting injectable forms of these hormones they were able to suppress the production of sperm to a remarkable degree. As such, this contraceptive was extremely effective and therefore certainly has promise.

"However, the fact that so many side effects were observed in the men who were taking part in the trial is of concern. For a male contraceptive to be accepted by men (or women) then it has to be well tolerated and not cause further problems."

The results are reported in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, published by the Endocrine Society.