Half of men against male contraceptive

NEARLY half of men say they would refuse to take a male contraceptive pill if one became available, according to a new poll.

In recent years there have been calls for a male version of the pill – and British scientists began trials of a contraceptive gel in 2019.

In previous surveys, women have pledged support for a male contraceptive but admitted they wouldn’t trust men to take it.

In the new study of 1,000 men by Lloyds Pharmacy, only 42 per cent said they would be happy to do so.

About a third of women take the oral contraceptive pill, which prevents ovulation and is the most popular form of female birth control.

However, they have been linked with side effects ranging from weight gain and skin problems to blood clots and an increased risk of breast cancer.

Currently, contraceptives available to men are condoms, or a vasectomy, in which the tubes that carry sperm out of the testicles are surgically severed and tied off.

The male contraceptive currently being studied by University of Manchester scientists uses a hormone which switches off sperm production in the testicles.

Some results are expected next year.