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Bridget M. Kuehn

JAMA. 2006;296:2539-2541.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text and any section headings.

Since the US Food and Drug Administration approved the first hormonal pill for use as a female contraceptive in 1960, the number and variety of female contraceptives has grown considerably. Women now have more than a dozen choices, ranging from intrauterine devices, improved barrier methods, and an array of hormonal contraceptives.

Men, however, currently have just two contraceptive options—condoms and vasectomy.

Scientists are seeking drugs that inhibit sperm production or disable sperm as potential new contraceptive options for men. (Photo credit: Susumu Nishinaga/http://www.sciencesource.com)

To help close this gap and further reduce the burden of unintended pregnancies worldwide, scientists are endeavoring to create new male contraceptive options. So far, their results suggest new male contraceptive options may become available within the next decade. Clinical trials are currently under way for several hormonal methods and for at least one contraceptive device. Meanwhile, scientists are also probing alternative . . . [Full Text of this Article]

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