6A the university daily kansan
tuesday.december 2.2003
male contraception
HEARD on the hill
How do you feel about the possibility of male birth control?
- Alyson Moyes, Leawood senior
"It would depend on if I'm in a committed relationship. Hopefully I'd be able to trust him enough to use it, but I don't know."
Rebecca Green, Chicago junior
"I would definitely have my boyfriend use it. If I trusted him enough to date him,I would trust him enough to take birth control."
Eric Schelker, Kansas City, Mo.. sophomore
"Yeah, sure I'd use it. I would do anything to prevent having a kid in college."
"I guess I would probably use it. It'd be a new way to be safe."
Alex Garcia, Olathe junior
"If my boyfriend was taking it, I would definitely call him every day to remind him."
— Sarah Osborn, Kingman freshman
BIRTH CONTROL: KU researchers among those developing options for men
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1A
John Amory works with a male contraceptive research program funded by the World Health Organization. Amory's group received a five-year, $9.5 million grant from the organization. Working out of the Population Center for Research in Human Reproduction in Seattle, the group is getting close to developing an effective male contraceptive.
"We've made so much progress," Amory said. "We're getting closer and closer to that zero sperm count."
Using the testosterones-progestins combination, Amory's team has produced a zero sperm count in close to 80 percent of study participants.
A contraceptive that completely shuts down sperm production is as effective as the pill, Amory said. However, research has shown that even sperm counts below three million per milliliter of ejaculate significantly reduce the risk of pregnancy.
"Right now, that's a reasonable short-term goal for our studies," Amory said.
Three large-scale studies of male hormonal control are under way. Oragnon, a Dutch pharmaceutical company, is conducting a study involving 300 men. The study is taking place at sites in Europe, Los Angeles and Seattle. Large-scale trials with approximately 500 participants are also happening in China.
Amory said researchers have been encouraged by the results. Participants are reporting few side effects and few resulting pregnancies. If data continues to be favorable, male hormonal birth control could hit the market within four years, Amory said.
What form the birth control will take remains to be seen. Researchers hope to one day offer men the wide range of birth control options now available to women. But that's getting ahead of the game. Amorv said.
"Right now, it's one step at a time," he said. "Right now, we're just working on getting one product on the market."
Some researchers, including Amory, say a monthly injection will be the first to reach consumers. Others think an implant inserted under the arm, similar to Norplast, will pave the
way. And there are those betting on a daily pill. Then there are trials testing possible combinations of these methods. The list goes on and on.
The largest studies are focusing on a long-acting injection, similar to women's Depo-Provera, Amory said.
After decades of birth control focused primarily on women, some researchers say it's time for men to have a role and a choice in family planning.
Why Now?
Vanessa Collins, vice president for medical affairs at Planned Parenthood, said any safe method for reducing unwanted pregnancies would be welcome.
"However long it takes, it will be
"However long worthwhile," she said.
Joseph Tash hopes it won't take long. Tash, associate professor of molecular and integrated physiology at the University of Kansas Medical Center, is working to develop a hormonal form of male birth control.
In the 1960s, there was not a lot of solid researching being done on the possibility of male contraceptives. The past few years especially have seen an explosion of research and discussion.
While attending high school in Chicago, Tash worked in the obstetrics and
"There's a greater awareness of new technologies in all fields. Now people have an idea of what we can do." he said.
Tash credits the surge of interest to a variety of things, from greater publicity to new breakthroughs in contraceptives of all kinds.
Georg and Tash are custom designing drugs that never existed before. They're manipulating and designing chemical compounds for the sole purpose of stopping sperm production.
"That was basically unheard o
Unequal choices
gynecology department at Michael Reese Hospital. He remembers seeing how women shouldered the burden of birth control.
Contraceptive methods for men:
■ condom
■ vasectomy
Contraceptive methods for women:
■ pill
■ diaphragm
■ intrauterine device
■ patch (Ortho-Evra)
■ implant (Norplant)
■ injection (Depo-Provera)
■ ring (Nuvaring)
Condoms are still the best protection against sexually transmitted diseases.
Source: www.plannedparentthoort.org
before." Tash said.
"Being a student of the '60s, I thought it would be better if this were a shared responsibility," he said.
So Tash began researching what has become his life's work; male reproduction and contraception. He is working with Gunda Georg, distinguished professor of medicinal chemistry here at the University, to develop options for men.
Three years ago, the National Institutes of Health awarded the pair a grant to fund their research. They are currently in the process of patenting their developments. Because their research has not yet been patented, Georg and Tash are not comfortable discussing the specifics.
The large number of developments in the field of female contraception has drawn attention to the lack of male birth control. Now researchers are taking what they've learned about female birth control and studying how it applies to the male body.
This new technology, and a willingness to apply it to men, has made hormonal contraceptives more feasible and increased demand for the product, Tash said.
The Cocktail Party Question
"Surveys have shown people want it." he said. "But only time will tell."
No one is sure exactly how men or women will react when male contraceptives go on the market. But Planned Parenthood and other organizations think people will be receptive.
Several large, independent surveys have shown men to be responsive to the idea. In a worldwide poll of 2,000 men conducted by the University of Edinburgh in the United Kingdom last year, more than 75 percent said they were "extremely interested and would highly consider using" a hormonal contraceptive. The remaining 25 percent said
"absolutelv not."
That doesn't discourage Amory, the Seattle researcher. When the alternative contraceptive methods are considered men will warm up to the idea of hormonal control, he said.
Vasectomies and condoms are still the only birth control options for men, vasectomies are considered permanent. While they can be reversed, 40 percent of men remain infertile after the reversal procedure. Couples who rely on condoms have a pregnancy rate of 15 percent per year. And condoms decrease sexual pleasure. There's not much competition for hormonal control. Amory said.
"If it's any indication, we haven't had any problems recruiting men for studies." Amory said.
Getting women on board hasn't been as easy.
Women can at least rest assured that their birth control is taken care of if they take measures to protect themselves. If and when the burden of birth control switches over to men, women will no longer have the guarantee that their birth control is under control. Researchers are still gauging how trusting women will be.
When Mr. One Night Stand says, "Don't worry, baby. I'm on the pill," will women believe it?
"That's the question I get asked at cocktail parties every weekend," Amory said.
Surveys have produced mixed results. When the University of Edinburgh polled 2,000 married women, close to 90 percent said a male pill would be a good idea. More than 97 percent said they would trust their husbands with birth control.
Single women were a different story. Georg said single women might be less likely to rely on partners they aren't committed to.
"It's important to consider individual relationships," Georg said. "A strong trust would have to be there."
Even if male hormonal birth control is not for every couple, it will benefit many people, George and Tash say. That is why they have devoted so much time and energy to its development.
"It will give people an alternative, a choice," Georg said. "And everyone deserves that."
-Edited by Andy Marso
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