The aim of hormonal male contraception is to prevent unintended pregnancies by suppressing spermatogenesis. Hormonal male contraception is based on the principle that exogenous administration of androgens and other hormones such as progestins suppress circulating gonadotropin concentrations, decreasing testicular Leydig cell and Sertoli cell activity and spermatogenesis. In order to achieve more complete suppression of circulating gonadotropins and spermatogenesis, a progestin has been added testosterone to the most recent efficacy trials of hormonal male contraceptives. This review focusses on the potential effects of male hormonal contraceptives on cardiovascular risk factors, lipids and body composition, mainly in the target group of younger to middle-aged men. Present data suggest that hormonal male contraception can be reasonably regarded as safe in terms of cardiovascular risk. However, as all trials have been relatively short (< 3 years), a final statement regarding the cardiovascular safety of hormonal male contraception, especially in long-term use, cannot be made. Older men with at high risk of cardiovascular event might not be good candidates for hormonal male contraception. The potential adverse effects of hormonal contraceptives on cardiovascular risk appear to depend greatly on the choice of the progestin in regimens for hormonal male contraceptives. In the development of prospective hormonal male contraception, data on longer-term cardiovascular safety will be essential.
Age Factors ; Androgens/therapeutic use* ; Antispermatogenic Agents ; Cardiovascular Diseases/epidemiology* ; Contraceptive Agents, Male/therapeutic use* ; Gonadotropins/metabolism* ; Humans ; Male ; Progestins/therapeutic use* ; Testosterone/therapeutic use*

BACKGROUND: There is a dearth of studies that explore the perceptions of male partners of adolescent females towards the intention of pursuing contraception.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the role of male partner perceptions in the intention to use of contraception among female adolescents to prevent unplanned repeat pregnancies.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: An urban sample of 102 male partners of female adolescents with previous pregnancy experience coming from the out-patient department and selected barangay health center responded to a two-part questionnaire that explored their perceptions towards contraception. Demographic data and their positive and negative views, attitudes and actual practice of contraception as it affects future intention to engage in family planning methods were determined.

RESULTS: Male sexual partners have positive perceptions towards contraception. Despite this, utilization rate was still low (56.8%). Positively correlated with contraceptive intention include the male partner's advanced age and high level of education. Perceptions that favor strong intention include careful pregnancy planning in the future, not wanting a pregnancy too soon, knowledge of a specific method, its perceived benefits, "shared decision" making, feeling "happy" when contraceptives are offered rather than forced and when a woman lacks trust in him. Forcing contraception by the female adolescent partner was negatively correlated with contraceptive intention.

CONCLUSION: Shared decision making towards contraception in order to reduce unintended pregnancies should engage the male partner's participation by correcting prevailing misperceptions.

Human ; Male ; Female ; Young Adult ; Adolescent ; Pregnancy ; Family Planning Services ; Contraceptive Agents ; Sexual Partners ; Outpatients ; Contraception ; Pregnancy, Unplanned ; Contraceptive Devices

Burkitt lymphoma is a highly aggressive B-cell neoplasm. New therapeutic methods are needed to overcome the adverse effect of intensive chemotherapy regimens. Valproic acid and (-)-gossypol are two kinds of chemical compounds used as new anti-tumor drugs in recent years. To investigate the anti-tumor effect of valproic acid and (-)-gossypol, Burkitt lymphoma Namalwa cells were cultured and treated with valproic acid and (-)-gossypol at different concentrations. The proliferation of Namalwa cells was dramatically suppressed after the combination treatment with 2 mmol/L valproic acid and 5 μmol/L (-)-gossypol. The combined treatment also enhanced intrinsic apoptosis by down-regulating anti-apoptotic protein Mcl-1. Moreover, the autophagy flux significantly increased in Namalwa cells after combined treatment. However, the enhanced autophagy showed little effect on cell survival with present regimen. The results confirmed that combination of valproic acid and (-)-gossypol had synergistic anti-tumor effect to Burkitt lymphoma Namalwa cells. The related mechanisms might include the down-regulation of anti-apoptotic protein Mcl-1 and avianized pro-survival role of autophagy.
Antineoplastic Agents ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; therapeutic use ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Burkitt Lymphoma ; drug therapy ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Contraceptive Agents, Male ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; therapeutic use ; Drug Synergism ; Enzyme Inhibitors ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; therapeutic use ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; drug effects ; Gossypol ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Valproic Acid ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; therapeutic use

PURPOSE: The objective of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of a sclerosing solution for inducing epididymal occlusion in male rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into two groups: an injection group (n=20) and control group (n=20). Before injecting the sclerosing agent, seminal vesiculectomy and sperm identification using electrostimulation were performed in all of the rats. In the injection group, 0.2 mL of 0.1% sodium tetradecyl sulfate solution was injected into the epididymis. In the sham group, only the identification of the epididymis was performed. At 4 and 12 weeks after the injection, semen was collected by electrostimulation and evaluated to assess the contraceptive effect. Epididymis was evaluated by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining. RESULTS: After 4 and 12 weeks, semen collection was performed in the two groups. Sperms were not observed in the injection group, while there was no change in the sperms in the sham group. H&E staining showed the obstruction of epididymal tubules and an accumulation of inflammatory cells in the injection group. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that the sclerosing agent induced sterilization in male rats. This result suggests that the injection method can replace vasectomy as a contraceptive method. However, a further study of large animals and a clinical study are needed. Further, the long-term effectiveness of this method needs to be studied.
Animals ; Contraception* ; Contraceptive Agents ; Eosine Yellowish-(YS) ; Epididymis ; Hematoxylin ; Humans ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sclerotherapy* ; Semen ; Sodium Tetradecyl Sulfate ; Spermatozoa ; Sterilization ; Vasectomy

PURPOSE: The objective of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of a sclerosing solution for inducing epididymal occlusion in male rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into two groups: an injection group (n=20) and control group (n=20). Before injecting the sclerosing agent, seminal vesiculectomy and sperm identification using electrostimulation were performed in all of the rats. In the injection group, 0.2 mL of 0.1% sodium tetradecyl sulfate solution was injected into the epididymis. In the sham group, only the identification of the epididymis was performed. At 4 and 12 weeks after the injection, semen was collected by electrostimulation and evaluated to assess the contraceptive effect. Epididymis was evaluated by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining. RESULTS: After 4 and 12 weeks, semen collection was performed in the two groups. Sperms were not observed in the injection group, while there was no change in the sperms in the sham group. H&E staining showed the obstruction of epididymal tubules and an accumulation of inflammatory cells in the injection group. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that the sclerosing agent induced sterilization in male rats. This result suggests that the injection method can replace vasectomy as a contraceptive method. However, a further study of large animals and a clinical study are needed. Further, the long-term effectiveness of this method needs to be studied.
Animals ; Contraception* ; Contraceptive Agents ; Eosine Yellowish-(YS) ; Epididymis ; Hematoxylin ; Humans ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sclerotherapy* ; Semen ; Sodium Tetradecyl Sulfate ; Spermatozoa ; Sterilization ; Vasectomy

The ideal goal of male immunocontraception is to develop a safe, effective, convenient, acceptable and reversible contraceptive vaccine. Current studies mainly focus on screening the most suitable target antigens from reproductive hormones and sperm functional proteins for the development of immuno contraceptive vaccines. The vaccine targeting reproductive hormones has not been widely used due to its different degrees of side effects and complicated operation. Recent studies show the practicability and applicability of the immuno contraceptive vaccine targeting sperm specific antigens, but its development is confronted with many challenges, such as how to select appropriate target antigens, how to enhance the immunogenicity of the vaccine, how to choose appropriate drug-delivery ways, how to reduce its side effects, and how to decrease its cost.
Antigens ; immunology ; Contraception, Immunologic ; methods ; Contraceptive Agents, Male ; immunology ; Humans ; Male ; Vaccines ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo study the antifertility and anti-inflammatory effects of compound Kucen gel in vivo.

METHODSAs antifertility experiment, we randomly divided 60 female SD rats into six groups of equal number: normal saline, blank gel, low-, medium- and high-dose compound Kucen gel (0.05, 0.10 and 0.15 g/g), and positive control (4% nonoxynol gel) to receive intravaginal administration of 200 microl of respective agent, followed by copulation with male rats in a 1:1 ratio. At 12 days after successful mating, the female rats were dissected for calculation of the embryos and the rate of contraception. As an anti-inflammatory trial, we established a mouse model of inflammation by applying xylene to the pinna, and equally randomized 60 Kunming mice to six groups as in the former experiment. We determined the degrees and average rates of swelling inhibition in the left ear.

RESULTSHigh-dose compound Kucen gel achieved a fertility-inhibition rate of 100% in the female rats, the number of embryos significantly lower than in the normal saline group (0.00 +/- 0.00 vs 11.00 +/- 2. 00, P < 0.05), but with no statistically insignificant difference from that of the positive control (0.00 +/- 0.00, P > 0.05). High-dose compound Kucen gel also markedly suppressed swelling in the left ear of the mice, with an inhibition rate of 52.3%, the average swelling degree significantly lower than in the normal saline group (10.17 +/- 2.56 vs 21.32 +/- 3.17, P < 0.01), but not remarkably different from that of the positive control (8.53 +/- 1.89, P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONCompound Kucen gel, with its strong antifertility and anti-inflammatory effects, deserves further study and clinical application.

Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; pharmacology ; Contraceptive Agents ; pharmacology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Female ; Gels ; Inflammation ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred Strains ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo explore the antispermatogenic and testicular antisteroidogenic activities of Feronia limonia fruit pulp southern India.

METHODSFourty Wistar male albino rats (Rattus norvegicus) were equally divided into four groups. Experimental groups were administered with the ethanolic extract of Feronia limonia (F. limoni) fruit pulp at doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg body weight once daily for 55 days. All treated rats had corresponding recovery groups. At the end of each treatment periods, various spermatological indices, tissue biochemicals and testicular enzymes levels were analysed. Blood profiles were also estimated.

RESULTSCompared with the control, the F. limonia fruit pulp at both dose levels did not decrease body weight, which were associated with decline in epididymal sperm count, motility, viability and increased percent of abnormal sperm. Further, F. limonia fruit pulp at 500 mg/kg body weight markedly reduced the epididymal and testicular protein content by 24.58% and 29.86%, respectively, as well as the glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and Δ(5)-3β-hydroxy steroid dehydrogenase) levels by 42.82% and 38.08%, respectively, while a significant elevation was observed in testicular cholesterol and ascorbic acid content. A gradual recovery of all parameters was observed after 55 days of treatment withdrawal. No significant alterations in haematological indices were observed.

CONCLUSIONSThe present findings indicate that F. limonia fruit pulp may have reversible antispermatogenic and antisteroidogenic properties, and could partially support the traditional use as male contraceptive.

Administration, Oral ; Animals ; Antispermatogenic Agents ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Ascorbic Acid ; chemistry ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Cholesterol ; chemistry ; Female ; Fruit ; chemistry ; Lethal Dose 50 ; Male ; Plant Extracts ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Sperm Count ; Sperm Motility ; drug effects ; Spermatozoa ; drug effects ; Testis ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Toxicity Tests, Acute ; Tracheophyta ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo study the anti-fertility effect of maximum-dose Tongbi Composition and its reversibility in male rats.

METHODSThirty-six male SD rats were equally randomized into a control group and a medication group, the former given normal saline at 10 ml/(kg x d), while the latter treated with Tongbi Composition at 10 g/(kg x d), both for 60 days. Half the rats of each group were sacrificed randomly at the cessation of treatment, and the rest killed at 72 days after it. The relative testis weight, testis volume, sperm concentration and sperm motility were measured, and the pathological changes in the testicular tissue observed under the optical microscope.

RESULTSAfter 60 days of treatment, no statistically significant differences were found between the two groups in the relative testis weight, testis volume and sperm concentration (P > 0.05) , and the sperm motility of the medication group dropped to zero, but it was restored to normal at 72 days after drug withdrawal. Almost no lesions were observed in the testis tissue of the medication group.

CONCLUSIONThe short-term use of Tongbi Composition at the maximum clinical dose has an obvious anti-fertility effect, but it is reversible.

Animals ; Antispermatogenic Agents ; pharmacology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sperm Motility ; Sterilization Reversal ; Testis ; drug effects

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate differences of subjective, objective knowledge and educational need about contraceptives according to sex in college students. METHODS: Data were collected by a self-administered questionnaire from 84 male and 111 female college students on May, 2008. PASW 18.0 program was used for data analysis. RESULTS: There were significant differences in age, major, grade, place of residence, and experience of sexual intercourse between male and female college students. There was a significant difference in objective knowledge about contraceptives between the two groups, but no significant difference in subjective knowledge. The positive correlation was shown between subjective and objective knowledge about contraceptives. Even when demographic variables such as age, major, grade, place of residence, and experience of sexual intercourse were controlled, sex was a significant influencing factor on subjective and objective knowledge about contraceptives. Educational need about emergency contraceptive pills was significantly different and ranking of educational need about contraceptives was also different between the two groups. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that different education programs according to sex are needed to maximize the effect of contraceptive education and sexual characteristics are considered to give an education to college students.
Coitus ; Contraceptive Agents ; Emergencies ; Female ; Humans ; Hypogonadism ; Male ; Mitochondrial Diseases ; Ophthalmoplegia ; Surveys and Questionnaires