New vaccine for men may act as contraceptive

MALE CONTRACEPTIVE: Common contraception methods for men have had several drawbacks.

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Keywords: Contraception, Vaccine

Mumbai: Condoms may soon be outclassed by a new form of vaccine-based contraception for men.

Scientists in Mumbai are working on a way men could get a vaccine shot every few months as means of contraception.

Whether it is birth control pills or tubectomy, contraception has always been tough for women. Meanwhile, men get away with just wearing a condom.

Scientists at Mumbai's National Institute for Research in Reproductive Health have developed a vaccine for men and a shot once in every three months could prevent unwanted pregnancies in their spouses or partners.

"It is a protein called 80 Kilo Dalton Human Sperm Antigen or 80 KDHSA and produces temporary infertility,” says scientist, Dr A Bandivdekar.

Common contraception methods for men have had several drawbacks. Condoms do not have a hundred per cent prevention rate and Vasectomy is not reversible. The withdrawal method is neither easy nor effective.

However, the new vaccine is made from a molecule isolated from human sperm that produces temporary infertility. It is therefore reversible, effective and simple.

"We have tested it on rabbits and small monkeys. Right now, we are testing it on big monkeys so it will take at least two years before human trials begin,” says Dr A Bandivdekar.

Many men are of the opinion that the vaccine should work well but they hope it has no side effects.

Critics however argue that though the vaccine would aid contraception, it would be ineffective in preventing the spread of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases.