Globally, there have been several technological approaches to regulate birth rates in the world. Most of the approaches are especially concentrated on how unwanted pregnancies are prevented. There are various types of birth control methods for sexually active persons.
Interestingly, technology has given the female gender a variety of options, such as the barrier method and the use of hormonal medication, sterilization, among others, aimed at stopping the sperm cells from the opposite gender from reaching the egg during sexual intercourse. The condom, usually made from latex or polyurethane, most especially prevents semen from entering the vagina and as well safeguard against all sorts of STIs which could be contracted in the process.
However, while the females bear most of the burden of contraception in heterosexual relationships, there are concerns on how males can help shoulder some responsibility, as regards birth control. Aside the use of condoms, an absolute withdrawal of the penis before ejaculation, and vasectomy appearing to be the only permanent birth control for males, no male contraceptive has really taken off.
Recently, a biotech company based in Virginia, Contraline, is developing what it refers to as ADAM, the world’s first injectable male contraceptive gel described as “like the IUD, for men’. The invention is another long-lasting and non-permanent male contraceptive which requires the gel to be injected into the abdomen.
The contraceptive, ADAM, is a non-hormonal gel that’s injected into the vas deferens. It blocks sperm from travelling into seminal fluid. Like an IUD, ADAM is long-lasting and should prevent pregnancy for a year or longer. Although the gel is currently under experiment and has yet to be made available for public use, it is special for preventing sperm cells from travelling to the testicles but after about two years, the gel dissolves, granting men the opportunity to repeat the procedure once again.
The recovery process is, however, similar to that of vasectomy as it requires a 24-hour rest and a total abstinence from sex, sports and heavy lifting for a week or such person will be at the risk of pain and bleeding inside the scrotum.
The development is being tested in a clinical trial at Epworth Freemasons Hospital in East Melbourne, Australia with the conviction that if the trial is successful, the procedure will be available by 2025 to 2026 as four men who have received the contraceptives were said to be currently under supervision for possible effects.
A urologist from Epworth Freemasons and the research’s principal investigator, Professor Nathan Lawrentschuk, was quoted as saying that “the three-year study will investigate whether the hydrogel is successful as a non-permanent and long-lasting contraceptive for males.
“If it is successful, it could be a game-changer, ensuring that contraception is a shared responsibility between couples.”
A data from the United Nations projected that the world’s population will increase by two billion persons in the next 30 years from the current 7.7 billion to 9.7 billion in 2050. It added that as the increase continues, there is a possibility that the world population could near 11 billion by 2100.
A 2019 World Population Prospects revealed that Asia has 61 per cent of the global population, 17 per cent in Africa, 10 per cent in Europe, eight per cent in Latin American and the Caribbean, and the remaining five percent in the Northern American and Oceania.
The statistics further showed that out of the entire population, China and India have been identified as the most populous countries with 1.44 billion and 1.39 billion people, respectively, accounting for about 18 per cent and 19 per cent of the world’s population, respectively.
Meanwhile, the projection was that China’s population would decrease by 2.2 per cent between 2019 and 2050, while the expectation was that India would overtake as the world’s most populous country by 2027.
In Nigeria, the United Nations pegged the nation’s population to 201 million in 2019 as the largest in Africa before the figures catapulted to 216 million in 2022 making it an estimation of 2.7 per cent of the global population. This ensued from the rapid increase in the birth rate across the country.
Commenting on the development, a Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State, Adewale Sule-Odu, explained that the invention is a very good method that can be adopted in Nigeria to control population.
He added that when the product is eventually endorsed by the relevant bodies and made public, Nigerian governments should publicise it and encourage men to embrace it.
He said, “The contraceptive is very important not only in Nigeria but all over the world. There are many contraceptive methods before but this one should be the latest and still under trial. Looking at the fertility rate in Nigeria, it is very high and by now the population is increasing day by day. Those developed countries have been able to control their population. If our government is serious, it can be well achieved but there should be some level of enlightenment in that direction.
“A lot of things have been put in place to manage fertility rate, considering our resources. It is going to be of help along with others. The beauty of this is that you can decide to continue it or not after two years. The male gender is too hard to control and that is their problem. They always think birth control should always be done by women, whereas the males need to contribute too. A man at an older age can still procreate compared to a woman that has a limit to their years of fertility.”
He added, “The government has to do a lot about educating the public about male fertility control and it is not just about this new method that is still under experiment, men should also be educated on the existing ones.
“I don’t see reasons why someone would be scared of vasectomy especially when you are about 60 years of age, because by that time you must have had the number of children you wish to have. Such procedures can also be made available at a cheaper cost or even free. When it is free, a lot of people will actually subscribe to them.”
Also, a Professor of Reproductive Health in the University of Maiduguri, Borno State, Auwal Abdulkarim, said the Nigerian adult males more often than not doubt the effectiveness of male contraceptives, adding that relevant regulatory bodies should undertake necessary findings before the product is endorsed for use in the country.
He said, “Honestly, we agree that the population of the country is getting higher and something has to be done. There are phobias among males about contraceptives but if this one is safe it is a welcome idea. It is a good thing to have something for the males too. The best thing is to wait for NAFDAC, to hear their comment on the product when it is out.”
A Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Ernest Orji, was also optimistic that more Nigerian men would be willing to use ADAM.
Orji said, “Nigeria is a procreation society that men are well known for dominance in decision making and you know a woman needs to get involved in a sexual activity with a man to get pregnant; so if the product successfully passes those clinical stages it will be a very good development. It will reduce fertility and overall population if Nigeria.
“Apart from male condoms, which are the most popular among men, this method will be a better means of reducing unwanted pregnancies and children. Men will also be more actively involved in birth controls. The truth is when it has been tested and people see that it does not affect their performance and has no or little side effects, it will be widely accepted. The supply will also be high because they know that they won’t be able to impregnate women when such is available.”
