Abstract
Background
Testosterone (T) gel, administered transdermally in combination with injections of
depomedroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) every 3 months, results in effective suppression
of spermatogenesis in 90% of men. Men's attitudes regarding the daily self-administration
of T-gel and the impact of such a regimen on sexual function, however, are unknown.
Therefore, we questioned subjects enrolled in a combination T-gel plus DMPA male contraceptive
trial regarding the acceptability of T-gel for male contraception and the impact of
the T-gel/DMPA regimen on sexual function and satisfaction during treatment.
Study Design
Thirty-eight healthy men, ages 18���55, were treated with T-gel (100 mg daily) + DMPA
(300 mg every 3 months) for 24 weeks. Sexual function was assessed using a validated
questionnaire at baseline, after 12 and 24 weeks of treatment and 12 weeks into recovery.
The overall acceptability of the method and attitudes regarding the daily self-administration
of T-gel were assessed by a questionnaire 12 weeks into recovery.
Results
Fifty percent of subjects were either satisfied or very satisfied with the T-gel-based
contraceptive regimen, and 45% indicated they would use the regimen if it were commercially
available. The T-gel was found to be easy to use by 76% of men, but a third of subjects
felt that T-gel administration interfered with their daily routine. Sexual function
was largely preserved during treatment; however, slight decreases in sexual function
were noted during recovery.
Conclusions
The experimental male hormonal contraceptive regimen of T-gel + DMPA is acceptable
to approximately one half of study volunteers, most of whom would use the method if
it were commercially available. Given its appeal to a significant proportion of men,
additional studies using T-gel and DMPA for male contraception are warranted.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: January 17, 2007
Accepted:
November 13,
2006
Received in revised form:
November 11,
2006
Received:
September 1,
2006
Footnotes
���This work was supported by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), a division of the National Institutes of Health, through cooperative agreements U54-HD-12629 and U54 HD-42454 as part of the specialized Cooperative Centers Program in Reproductive Research and the Cooperative Contraceptive Research Centers Program. Dr. Amory is supported, in part, by the NICHD by Grant K23 HD45386.
Identification
Copyright
© 2007 Elsevier Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
