A Review of Androgen-Progestin Regimens for Male Contraception

The document is a review of studies on hormonal male contraception, specifically androgen-progestin regimens, and their effectiveness in inducing azoospermia. It covers research from 1960 to September 2002, involving 802 male volunteers aged 21-50 with normal seminal parameters. The review found that testosterone alone was highly effective in Asian men, while combined androgen-progestin regimens showed promise in Caucasian men. Injectable forms of contraception, particularly depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) with testosterone, were more effective than oral combinations. Sequential regimens outperformed continuous ones, and while no single progestin was superior, desogestrel (DSG) combined with testosterone achieved a 75% azoospermia rate in 162 subjects across six studies. The review concludes that hormonal male contraception is viable and effective, with the potential for market availability, but emphasizes the need for further large-scale studies to confirm safety and efficacy across different ethnic groups. No major adverse effects were reported, but long-term safety assessments are necessary.