Despite the availability of many female contraceptives, the unintended pregnancy rate is significant. The need and demand for new male contraceptive options have grown, and researchers have been developing various methods beyond vasectomy and condoms. This site provides resources so that you can keep up on the latest information on male contraceptive development and how you can make the most informed decisions about reproduction.
Did you know that more than 85 million unintended pregnancies happen worldwide each year? With only condoms, vasectomy, and withdrawal as contraceptive options, men have limited choices to control their reproduction. Demand for a non-hormonal, highly effective contraceptive for men is increasing, with use expected to reduce the incidence of unplanned pregnancy.
Scientists are working on a wide variety of methods for male contraception. Male contraceptive research targets the entire reproductive pathway, including spermatogenesis, sperm motility and transport, and fertilization. And progress is being made, with a few hormonal and nonhormonal options being studied in human volunteers now. We anticipate that more male contraceptives will be available in the coming years.
The Parsemus Foundation’s founder Elaine Lissner has been an advocate for the development of new male contraceptives for decades. We have supported and promoted work on the Clean Sheets pill, ultrasound, Gandarusa, and other contraceptives as well as allocating most of the Foundation’s effort toward the development of Vasalgel. The foundation has now partnered withNEXT Life Sciences to bring the Vasalgel product to market.
The Parsemus Foundation and its social venture subsidiary Revolution Contraceptives, LLC have partnered with NEXT Life Sciences to continue development of the Vasalgel male contraceptive. NEXT Life Sciences announced the launch of Plan A birth control for men, using the Vasalgel technology.
Sign up for updates from NEXT Life Sciences and visit the NEXT Life Sciences Plan Awebsite to get more information.

After a decade of research on Vasalgel, the Parsemus Foundation determined that the reversible, long-lasting contraceptive for men was ready to advance to the next level. The search for an organization with the resources needed to lead the project to the marketplace ended when the Parsemus Foundation selectedNEXT Life Sciences, Inc. as our partner. NEXT Life Sciences’ mission is to develop and distribute medical technology that empowers people to choose when and whether to have a child.
NEXT Life Sciences announced itslaunch of the product called Plan A, using the Vasalgel technology for male contraception. The NEXT team expects Plan A to be available to the public in 2026.
For more information, see theNEXT Life Sciences andPlan A websites.
“Responsibility and right to decide - why shouldn't we explore new options when the methods available today match with the family planning ideals from the last century? You should be able to choose from a range of options, regardless of your gender or genitals.”
AlvaJune 2024
“There should be an easy condom-free way for men to ensure no offspring arrive.”
Zeez2014
“Traditional contraceptive options, meaning the ones for women, aren't suitable for me. So, I'm hoping that there would be something suitable for my partner.”
Joanna2014
“As a male, I want to take responsibility for my half of the procreation equation. Anyway condoms are awful.”
McKenzie
“Men need more options...moreover, women need men to have more options.”
April
“Things need to change for the male contraception industry. Being open to change is only the start. Humanity NEEDS more options.”
Jonathan
“Men should be able to take part in contraception without having to use a condom or getting a vasectomy.”
Peter
“Men should have more options than just condoms (which are not 100% safe) and vasectomy (which is irreversible). For women, there are many options (almost all have some side effects) and most of them are hormonal which require flushing hormones in blood streams.”
Shubhi
“Male contraceptives are a massively important step for the sexual safety of everyone.”
Justis
“Men need more contraceptive options. Contraception shouldn't be almost exclusively hormonal options for women.”
Alex
“It's vital to have more birth control options for men!”
Max
“Men need more options for contraception.”
Nicole
“I have had the responsibility and side effects of hormonal contraceptives for 17 years. My fiance and I would welcome an option that would allow him to take the responsibility for awhile and give me a break from the problems that the hormones cause for me.”
Julie
“As a millennial, it would be great to have a variety of options that put me in charge of my life instead of relying on female contraceptives or condoms that are not always safe.”
Andrew
“Using condoms is just the least evil for both partners. Male contraception could have significantly fewer side effects and could be much more precise and target-oriented than the pill for women.”
Jonas
“We're newly-wed but we don't think that we're fit to be parents yet. I'm only 23 and I think I need to grow up a couple of years before thinking about having a baby. So, instead of wearing condoms for the coming five years or so and feeling miserable about it, I want an effective solution that I can reverse in the future because I know one day we will think of having a baby and I do not want to put my partner at any risk by using hormonal pills. Current methods all focus on the woman and all have terrible side effects (my wife cannot use IUDs) and condoms are fine until you get sick of them during intercourse and just throw them away.”
Ahmed
“I am a woman and as a migraine sufferer, my contraceptive choices are limited to IUDs or progestin-only pills. Since I experience unwanted side effects with these, we rely on condoms. A longer-term "no-worry" solution would be much preferred.¬† It would be worth the cost as opposed to an unwanted pregnancy!”
Sara DMarried, no kids
“I want control of my fertility that is safe, convenient to use and totally effective. That way I can be in control of my life rather than putting it in the hands of women and government agencies.”
S. Gee
“I would like the opportunity to be more intimate with my partner and condoms bar that, beyond the conventional 'doesn't feel as good' argument. However, I am extremely concerned about the failure rates of the Pill due to human error and would like to take some responsibility for my future finances into my own hands without being abstinent.”
New college graduateAge 22
“Condoms are a nice method; however I have a 3-year-old that proves they are not 100% effective!”
Frank B.Father of 3, age 27
“I do not wish to further my genetic line due to a severe bleeder's disease, which also makes normal vasectomy a no-go.”
Anonymous
“I provide family planning services to young people in Southern California and would love to have more to offer the young men who come in (and their partners) much more than condoms or permanent vasectomy. I speak from the front lines that most of my clients know about condoms and are NOT using them as much as we would like.”
Kristel DNurse Practitioner
“As a male I would not take any contraceptive that altered my hormonal balance. And the idea of getting a MONTHLY injection - are you crazy??? This is probably why surveys come back saying there's limited interest in male contraceptives - given that sort of choice, I'm not interested either!”
Terry S.
“Having control over when I have children is the foremost thing in my life. I place great value on having freedom of choice and freedom from worry. Also, being a person with not much money living in a third world country, a cheap contraceptive is imperative.”
Anonymous
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We occasionally share news about overlooked innovations in human and pet healthcare. Sign up to receive our human health and/or pet health e-newsletter.
We take your privacy seriously and will never share your contact information. See our Privacy Policyhere.
The Parsemus Foundation is a private nonprofit operating foundation working to create meaningful improvements in human and pet health and welfare by advancing innovative and neglected medical research. Our aim is to educate medical professionals and the public about the latest developments in health and medicine.
You can email us at
in**@******us.org
Our Professional Profile
can befound on ProPublica.
Write to Us
Parsemus Foundation,
2261 Market Street #24,
San Francisco, CA 94114
This website is educational and does not constitute medical advice or professional services. Those seeking personal medical advice should consult with a licensed physician.