Male Contraception - An Overview

There is no dearth of men all over the world looking for different methods of contraception. Contraception is mainly used to avoid unwanted pregnancies, although some forms can also help in the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases. Without the use of an effective form of contraception, there is a high risk of unwanted pregnancies. Here are your options.

Condoms:
Amongst the most commonly used form of contraception in men, condoms work as barrier devices which prevent the semen from entering the vagina. In addition, condoms also provide protection against a range of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) such as HIV, syphilis, and gonorrhea. There is a wide variety of condoms to choose from in this day and age, and this choice comes in the form of textured and flavored condoms. Using condoms does not provide 100% protection.

The Withdrawal Method:
This method is also commonly referred to as the 'pull out' method, or 'coitus interruptus'. This is where you would withdraw your penis just before you ejaculate, thereby ejaculating outside your partner's body. This method does not offer 100% protection against unwanted pregnancies either.

Vasectomy:
This is looked upon as a permanent male contraception method, as it works in ensuring that no sperms get to the ejaculate. This procedure is generally chosen by men who feel they've had their share of children. The procedure does not take very long, and involves the 'vas deferens' from both testicles being cut, clamped, or sealed in some other manner.

Natural Solutions:
Men in some cultures use solutions derived from nature to serve as contraceptive measures. Extract from 'Neem' (Azadirachta indica) is said to work as an effective contraceptive for men, and its use in Asian cultures is quite common. Lab tests on mice have shown that Neem oil can be used as an alternative to vasectomy. Seeds from the papaya fruit (Carica papaya) have also been used by many Asian cultures as a means to prevent unwanted pregnancies. Lab tests with monkeys have shown that papaya seeds work in eliminating sperms from the ejaculate.

Alternatives Being Developed:
Various male contraception methods continue to be developed, and many of these aim to work along the lines of commonly available contraceptives for women. Men, by the looks of it, will soon have the option to avail of alternatives like pills, gels, patches, and injections. Newer alternatives which are still being tested include the use of calcium channel blockers like nifedipine; adjudin, which is a non-toxic form of ionidamine; as well as phenoxybenzamine.

Realize that what might seem like the best form of male contraception for someone might not necessary find favor with someone else. Besides, the all important factor of whether the solution sought is permanent or temporary will also have a bearing on the method that you choose.

What's important though is that you use some form of contraception whilst engaging in sex. And when this involves an unknown partner, you should take particular care to protect yourself from sexually transmitted diseases as well.