In an extraordinary feat of medical research, The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has achieved a significant milestone by successfully completing the clinical trials of the world’s first injectable male contraceptive. This groundbreaking research, as reported in the Andrology journal, reveals that the male contraceptive is not only safe but also highly effective, with no serious side effects detected.
The phase-III clinical trials involved 303 candidates aged between 25 and 40 years and were conducted across five different centers in New Delhi, Udhampur, Ludhiana, Jaipur, and Kharagpur, all coordinated by ICMR. The trials were open-labeled and non-randomized, and their approval came from the Drugs Controller General India (DCGI) and the respective institutional ethical committees.
In a captivating research, 303 wedded men, along with their equally vibrant spouses, who had made a visit to both the family planning clinic and the urology department for vasectomy or the cutting-edge No Scalpel Vasectomy (NSV), were meticulously selected. Adding a sprinkle of intrigue to the narrative, these men were administered a dose of 60 mg of Reversible Inhibition of Sperm under Guidance (RISUG).
“The overall efficacy of RISUG with respect to achieving azoospermia was 97.3 per cent and based on pregnancy prevention was 99.02 per cent without any serious side effect,” the study stated.
It added “In the history of contraceptive development, RISUG presents the highest effectiveness compared to all other contraceptives both male and female as they were at the threshold of induction into a mass contraception program.”
The study further stated that To achieve these goals, a new male birth control method called Reversible Inhibition of Sperm under Guidance (RISUG) has been created. It’s given as a single injection and can be undone. This method is promising for widespread use because it’s a localized injection and doesn’t affect the body like hormonal shots do.
