Beyond the Condom: The Future of Male Contraception; Men: The Scientific Truth; Scientific American Presents; by Alexander; 6 Page(s)

Men have long had a limited choice of contraceptive methods: abstinence, withdrawal, condoms and vasectomy. With about three million unplanned or unwanted pregnancies a year in the U.S. alone, however, there is clearly room for more effective methods.

Male contraceptive research today pursues the ideal of birth control that is safe, long-acting but readily reversible, virtually free of side effects and applied sometime other than just before sex. Such a method would also reduce the spread of sexually transmitted diseases and be inexpensive. No product under investigation can meet all these criteria, but several methods could potentially meet many of them.