Researchers at UW report progress on male birth control
Jun 25, 2012, 5:41 PM | Updated: 6:43 pm
Researchers at the University of Washington are reporting progress on a new type of birth control that men can apply to their skin.
The latest study combined skin gels containing two hormones, including the male hormone testosterone. Previous hormone combinations required injections or implants.
After at least 20 weeks of treatment, very low sperm counts resulted for almost 90 percent of the men in the study.
Some of the test subjects had a complete absense of sperm.
Unlike previous studies, this time researchers used an investigational drug containing a synthetic hormone that does not produce certain side effects, such as acne, mood changes and bad cholesterol.
