Male contraception - is there an equity in family planning?

Globally, an estimated 44% of pregnancies are unintended, and alarmingly, over half of these result in abortions. This disconcerting trend not only places women at risk of avoidable and unsafe medical procedures but also elevates maternal mortality. Common reason for discontinuing contraceptive use include concerns about health, the experience of side effects, and contraceptive failure.
Currently, the two main options for male contraception are condoms and vasectomies. However, condoms exhibit a relatively high failure rate of 13% with consistent use, and vasectomies, while effective, are invasive and not always reversible. Despite persistent endeavors to pioneer novel male contraceptive solutions, the quest for highly effective and reversible methods remains unfulfilled.
Remarkably, 78% of men perceive family planning as a shared responsibility between partners. The introduction of a groundbreaking male contraceptive would not only augment the choices available to men but would also serve as a vital alternative for couples seeking contraceptive options. Clinical trials aimed at exploring male contraceptives have featured diverse combinations of hormonal agents and delivery methods, including injectable formulations, transdermal gels, implants, and oral options. Encouragingly, these clinical trials have not reported any significant adverse events or sustained metabolic disruptions. One drawback associated with hormonal male contraception is the time required for men to suppress and subsequently restore normal spermatogenesis. Hormonal methods necessitate at least 2 months of usage to reach contraceptive efficacy, a timeline similar to the onset of effectiveness observed in vasectomies. For more comprehensive information, you can explore the link provided.