• Manchester & Monadnock Region: (603) 669‑9200
  • Dover: (603) 742‑1444
  • Portsmouth: (603) 368‑9095
  • Derry: (603) 836-1600
  • Nashua: (603) 577-3190
Skip to content
Manchester Urology Associates, PA Best of 603 - 2022 winner
  • Our Providers
    • Our Providers
    • Physician Careers
  • Services
    • Services
    • Medtronic Interstim™
    • UroLift® System for BPH
    • Aquablation® Therapy
    • Rezūm Water Vapor Therapy for BPH
    • Telehealth/Telemedicine Services
  • Patient Info
  • Resources
    • Patient Education Center
    • MUA Links
    • Support Organizations
  • Locations
  • Patient Portal
  • Facebook

Related Articles

  • Vasectomy
  • Vasectomy Reversal
  • Vasectomy: Your Questions Answered
  • Patient Education Center
  • Urological Conditions
  • Patient Forms
  • Contact Us
Request An Appointment
Stethoscope on computer Patient Portal Login

In this Article

    Vasectomy Alternatives: Information for Men

    Male Birth Control: Present and Possible Future

    Perhaps you and your partner are finished having children. Or you just know you don’t want children in the future and want to make sure no unplanned pregnancies happen. If this is the case, you might be looking for permanent methods of birth control.

    Photo of condoms and oral birth control pills

    Is a vasectomy the answer? For many men the answer is “yes.” Since vasectomy became common in the 1970’s it has provided men and families a safe, effective, minimally-invasive form of birth control with a fast recovery period. A vasectomy involves cutting two tubes called the vas deferens — the pathways that sperm travel through. The cut ends are then tied or sealed together with heat, blocking the path of sperm. (Note: A vasectomy doesn’t take effect immediately, as some sperm cells remain in the vas deferens and will need clear out. You and your partner will still need to use contraception until there are no more sperm cells in the pipeline.)

    Vasectomies are usually considered permanent. A vasectomy reversal is an option if a man changes his mind, but the procedure can be expensive, and reversals are not effective 100% of the time. This may give some men reason to consider alternatives to vasectomy. Nowadays viable sperm can also be surgically retrieved for use with IVF (in vitro fertilization) procedures, even years after a vasectomy.

    Vasectomy Alternatives

    Are there alternatives? Yes.

    Condoms

    Male condoms can be an effective form of birth control – 98% effective, in fact – as long as you use them the right way. Condoms can reduce the risk of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), too – again, when used correctly. Many men unknowingly use condoms incorrectly, often because they learned how to use a condom informally or casually when they were younger and perhaps sexually inexperienced. (If you’re not sure you’re using condoms correctly, we can provide you with accurate educational material.)

    Options for Women

    Your partner has temporary contraceptive options, too. Female condoms, hormonal contraceptives, birth control pills, intrauterine devices (IUDs), and diaphragms are all possibilities for temporary birth control. Her gynecologist can help her choose which methods are best for her.

    Women may also consider tubal ligation (sometimes called “getting your tubes tied”), a surgical procedure that cuts and seals the fallopian tubes, preventing sperm cells from reaching an egg. This method is permanent, however. It’s also more complex than a vasectomy, and it may have more complications, a longer recovery period, and a higher cost.

    What about withdrawal?

    Some men wonder whether withdrawal (coitus interruptus or “pulling out” before ejaculation) is a viable contraceptive method. This approach is not considered reliable, as sperm cells can be present in pre-ejaculate (precum) and find their way into the vagina before the man withdraws his penis. The method also requires determination and perfect timing on the part of the man, which can be hard to control in the midst of intercourse. (One more point to consider – withdrawal alone provides no protection against STIs.)

    Male Birth Control Under Investigation

    In the meantime, scientists are looking into other temporary, reversible male contraceptive options.

    • Birth control pills. Scientists are studying hormonal oral contraceptives for men. While these pills have generally passed safety tests in humans, more research is needed to determine how effective they are.
    • Hormonal gel. Scientists are also investigating a hormonal contraceptive gel that can be applied to the skin once a day.
    • Reversible Inhibition of Sperm Under Guidance (RISUG). Like vasectomy, RISUG blocks the path of sperm cells. But instead of undergoing surgery, men receive an injection of a special gel that attaches to the walls of the vas deferens, forming a barrier that sperm cells can’t swim past. Clinical trials have shown RISUG to be effective, and the effects could last up to 10 years. It can also be reversed by injecting another substance that breaks down the gel and flushes it out.
    • “Clean Sheets Pill.” How about a pill that allows men to feel the pleasure of orgasm without actually ejaculating? That’s the aim of the “clean sheets pill,” which men can take a few hours before sex. Much more research is needed, however, and some experts question whether men will be open to semen-free ejaculation.

    Talk with Your Partner(s)

    We encourage you and your partner to discuss your birth control options thoroughly. This is a decision you should make together, considering your feelings about family planning and your comfort with different contraceptive methods. If you’re single and/or having sex with multiple partners, we urge you to have the vital contraception/STI conversations with everyone you have sex with, including oral sex and anal sex.

    Resources

    Basic and Clinical Andrology
    Khilwani, Barkha, et al.
    “RISUG® as a male contraceptive: journey from bench to bedside”
    (Published online: February 13, 2020)
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7017607/ 


    BBC.com
    Campo-Engelstein, Lisa
    “Are we ready for men to take the pill?”
    (October 22, 2019)
    https://www.bbc.com/news/health-49879667

    Birth Control Pharmacist
    Gonzalez, Steven
    “Updates In Male Contraceptive Agents”
    (June 22, 2020)
    https://birthcontrolpharmacist.com/2020/06/22/updates-in-male-contraceptive-agents/

    Endocrine Society
    “Dimethandrolone undecanoate shows promise as a male birth control pill”
    (March 18, 2018)
    https://www.endocrine.org/news-and-advocacy/news-room/2018/dimethandrolone-undecanoate-shows-promise-as-a-male-birth-control-pill

    “Second potential male birth control pill passes human safety tests”
    (March 25, 2019)
    https://www.endocrine.org/news-and-advocacy/news-room/2019/endo-2019–second-potential-male-birth-control-pill-passes-human-safety-tests

    LiveScience
    Rettner, Rachael
    “World’s First Injectable Male Birth Control May Soon Arrive in India”
    (November 20, 2019)
    https://www.livescience.com/male-birth-control-risug.html

    Mayo Clinic
    “Withdrawal method (coitus interruptus)”
    (April 8, 2020)
    https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/withdrawal-method/about/pac-20395283

    MedlinePlus.gov
    “Tubal Ligation”
    (Page last updated: August 10, 2020)
    https://medlineplus.gov/tuballigation.html

    National Health Service (UK)
    “Condoms: Your Contraception Guide”
    (Page last reviewed: September 19, 2017)
    https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/contraception/male-condoms/

    Urology Care Foundation
    “Quick Snip: Should You Get a Vasectomy?”
    (Fall 2014)
    https://www.urologyhealth.org/patient-magazine/magazine-archives/2014/fall-2014/quick-snip-should-you-get-a-vasectomy

    Vasectomy.com
    Radcliffe, Shawn
    “Birth Control for Men: ‘Clean Sheets’ Pill”
    (November 28, 2018)
    https://www.vasectomy.com/article/vasectomy/alternatives/birth-control-for-men-clean-sheets-pill

    Verywellhealth.com
    Stacey, Dawn, PhD, LMHC
    “Male Birth Control Options”
    (April 29, 2020)
    https://www.verywellhealth.com/male-birth-control-injections-3970355

    This patient education article is reposted with permission from HealthcommunitiesProviderServices.com and adapted for our use.

    All information is reviewed by a board-certified urologist.

    Related Articles

    • A physician holds a model of a sperm cell Vasectomy
    • Baby in car seat looks at father and touches father's face. Vasectomy Reversal
    • Illustration of testes, epididymides, and vasa deferentia. One vas deferens has been cut. The other vas deferens has been cut and tied closed. Vasectomy: Your Questions Answered

    Our Locations

    Manchester

    • 4 Elliot Way
    • Suite 200
    • Manchester, NH 03103
    • Tel: 603.669.9200
    • Fax: 603.624.2210
    • Map

    Dover

    • 10 Members Way
    • Suite 402
    • Dover, NH 03820
    • Tel: 603.742.1444
    • Fax: 603.742.1443
    • Map

    Derry

    • 14A Tsienneto Road
    • Suite 302
    • Derry, NH 03038
    • Tel: 603.836.1600
    • Fax: 603.624.2210
    • Map

    Portsmouth

    • 330 Borthwick Ave
    • Jackson Gray Medical Building - 2nd Floor - Suite 210
    • Portsmouth, NH 03801
    • Tel: 603.368.9095
    • Fax: 603.368.9096
    • Map

    Manchester Urology at Nashua

    • 17 Riverside Street
    • Suite 201
    • Nashua, NH 03062
    • Tel: 603.577.3190
    • Fax: 603.577.3191
    • map

    Manchester Urology at Monadnock

    • Monadnock Community Hospital
      452 Old Street Road
    • Suite 206 - Second Floor
    • Peterborough, NH 03458
    • Tel: 603.669.9200
    • Fax: 603.624.2210
    • map
    Find us on Facebook
    HealthCommunities Provider Services © 2023 Manchester Urology Associates, PA | Privacy Policy | Security Policy | Terms of Use
    • Facebook