A research team at UC Davis Health is conducting a two-year clinical trial for a new reversible male contraception gel.
The gel contains segesterone acetate, a synthetic progestin, which blocks natural testosterone production in the testes and reduces sperm production. The gel also contains replacement testosterone to help maintain normal sex drive and other functions dependent on the hormone, according to UC Davis Health. The gel is applied to the man's shoulders daily and to date 31 Sacramento area couples have been part of very successful research, so now they've been given additional funds to recruit even more local couples for the two-year clinical trial.
“I am so incredibly honored to be part of this program given the remarkable advancements we are seeing for preventing pregnancies for couples,” said Mitchell Creinin, director of family planning and lead study investigator at UC Davis Health. “It’s been amazing to track each couples’ progress and see how month after month, the majority of men are not negatively impacted by using this gel as their primary birth control method. Couples have the comfort of knowing that with use of this gel, the man’s sperm count is incredibly low or zero – and that the man’s normal sperm levels resume within a few months of discontinuing daily use of the gel.”