Trivia: New Tools for Reproductive Health

Wish your husband could go on the pill instead of you? This scenario and others might soon become a reality, thanks to some of the newest pills, creams, and vaccines designed to improve reproductive health.

Male Contraceptives

What It Does: One male contraceptive pill that is currently under development contains desogestrel (a synthetic hormone found in female birth control pills) and testosterone. Desogestrel stops sperm production, while the supplementary testosterone maintains male characteristics and sex drive. Like the female birth control pill, male contraceptive pills must be taken daily. Another male contraceptive method works by implanting tiny rods under the skin. The implanted rods release the synthetic hormone etonogestrel and block sperm production for three years, although the effects can be reversed at any time by removing the rods. Men who are on the contraceptive implant need testosterone injections every four to six weeks. Both the male contraceptive pill and implant are completely reversible. MaleContraceptives.org offers information on these and other experimental male contraceptive methods.

Availability: Under development. Organon International and Schering AG completed phase II clinical trials for their male contraceptive implant in 2006.

Advantages: Male contraceptives would offer men another option for birth control, in addition to condom use and vasectomies.

HPV (Human Papillomavirus) Vaccine

Brand name: Gardasil® (Quadrivalent Human Papillomavirus Types (6, 11, 16, 18) Recombinant Vaccine)

What It Does: Gardasil helps prevent cervical cancer, genital warts, and precancerous lesions caused by HPV. The vaccine is effective against HPV types 16 and 18, which cause 70% of cervical cancers; as well as against HPV types 6 and 11, which cause 90% of genital warts.

Availability: The vaccine is approved for use in girls and women aged nine to 26, and is available from doctors in the US and Canada. Gardasil was approved by the FDA on June 8, 2006 and approved by Health Canada in July 2006.

Advantages: This is the first vaccine to protect against diseases caused by HPV. It can be given before the patient becomes sexually active.

Topical Microbicides

What It Does: Microbicides are gels, creams, or suppositories that can be applied to the vagina or rectum to prevent infection by HIV and other sexually transmitted viruses. Some microbicides work by acting as a physical barrier that prevents viruses from attaching to vaginal walls, and others kill viruses by manipulating the pH of the vagina. Microbicides specific for HIV may kill or inactivate the virus, prevent it from entering human cells, or inhibit HIV replication.

Availability: About 23 microbicides are currently in clinical development, and five are undergoing phase III clinical trials. Promising candidates include Carraguard, PRO 2000, Ushercell, and cellulose sulfate gels.

Advantages: Women may be able to protect themselves from STDs using microbicides even if their male partners refuse to wear a condom. Microbicides also have the advantage of being relatively inexpensive, and easy to manufacture and distribute.

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