Mood Swings Halt Ground-Breaking Male Birth Control Study

The burden of preventing pregnancy often lies with one gender despite the fact that both men and women are responsible for pregnancy. Over the years, there have been limited options of male contraception; withdrawal, condoms and sterilization, compared with the range of options available to women. It is for this reason that 320 healthy men in different countries around the world in monogamous relationships were incorporated into a World Health Organization commissioned research. In the study, a two hormone injection designed to lower sperm count by acting on the brain’s pituitary gland was found to be 96 percent effective against preventing pregnancy in the participants' partners. Only four pregnancies (resulting in three live births) occurred.

While the study occurred between 2008 and 2012, researchers stopped enrolling new participants in 2011 due to severe side effects. It was at the second stage trial when an independent review panel found that participants were experiencing mood swings, an altered libido and acne. 20 men dropped out of the study early due to these effects, with one participant being reported to have committed suicide as a result. The external panel of reviewers concluded that the risks of the study participants outweighed the potential benefits. These experienced side effects faced by women already taking birth control every day.

Simiyu feels that given the risks, he would not use this form of contraception. "After all I am healthy and will certainly not be at the risk of getting pregnant." He laughs. While Mzee Ngade tells me it's a taboo to even think of contraception not only in women but also in men, his friend Karisa says "Birth control is made for women. I don't think men should be involved in these things." However there are other men with a different opinion. Baraza a mechanic says he is surprised there's such an option in future and cites its economical viability. "If it is available for men, why not? I can relieve my wife of this burden (using contraceptives), then we can have fewer kids we can manage." Besides putting men in position to make decisions, some younger men like Wambua feel that this hormonal contraception will do his gender a lot of good. "For those guys that are quick to reject a girl for being pregnant with their kid yet they don't like using condoms, this is their best option. "They wouldn't have to worry about making a girl pregnant."

Nduta is amused about the mens attitude as well as the reasons why the study was stopped. "Haven't we been going through these effects all along? Those are double standards. Let them them take responsibility also. They should stop being sissies." Nyangi a fishmonger says she wouldn't trust her man to take the jab. "Will he remember to go to the clinic as often as is required? What if he forgot? Keep in mind men don't like taking medication. It takes a lot of commitment to take these jabs faithfully." Next to Nyangi is Mwende's stall. This vegetable vendor feels the contraception is a double edged sword. " Now these men are going to sleep around just because they don't have to worry about getting a girl pregnant. They will be having a lot of girlfriends in this era of HIV." For the doubtful lot like Ken and Kirigia only time will tell. " I would monitor the progress of the people using it and if they are fine in the end, then yah, I will try it." Says Ken. An apprehensive Kirigia says "You never know what happens with new medicines, the risks and all. I don't want to be a guinea pig. I will wait and see what the end results of the study are."

Medical officer with the department of reproductive health and research at the World Health Organization, Mario Festin, says: “Although the injections were effective in reducing the rate of pregnancy, the combination of hormones needs to be studied more to consider a good balance between efficacy and safety.” The clinical trial results were published online in October 2016, in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.