Dearth of men for contraceptive trials

New Delhi: 22nd August 2011

India’s efforts to create an indigenous non-surgical male contraceptive is facing a major hurdle: male volunteers. The final phase of trials, phase-III, before India could unveil to the world a single-dose, safe and reversible contraceptive method for men has failed to recruit even half the number of male subjects it needs for testing RISUG (Reversible Inhibition of Sperm UnderGuidance) over the past two years. At present, the only option for a man is to undergo vasectomy — a surgical procedure or a permanent birth control in which the vasa deferentia is severed and tied to prevent sperm from entering into the seminal stream.

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