ICMR’s Injectable Male Contraceptive and its Sociological Implications
1. What is the significance of ICMR’s recent clinical trials?
ICMR has completed clinical trials for the world’s first injectable male contraceptive, demonstrating its safety and high efficacy without severe side effects.
2. Where were the findings published?
The results of the phase-III clinical trial were published in the international open-access Andrology journal.
3. Where were the clinical trials conducted?
The trials were multi-centre, hospital-based, and took place in New Delhi, Udhampur, Ludhiana, Jaipur, and Kharagpur.
4. Who coordinated and approved these trials?
The trials were coordinated by ICMR, New Delhi, with permission from the Drugs Controller General India (DCGI) and approval from the institutional ethical committees of the respective centres.
5. What was the sample size and who were the participants?
The study involved 303 healthy, sexually active, and married men and their wives who visited family planning clinics or urology departments for vasectomy or No Scalpel Vasectomy (NSV).
6. What was the main method used for contraception in the trial?
Men were given a 60 mg injection of Reversible Inhibition of Sperm under Guidance (RISUG).
7. What were the main findings of the study?
RISUG showed a 97.3% efficacy in achieving azoospermia and a 99.02% success rate in preventing pregnancy, without any major side effects.
8. How does RISUG compare with other contraceptives?
RISUG has the highest effectiveness compared to all other male and female contraceptives and is on the verge of being introduced into a mass contraception program.
9. Why is there a need for modern methods of male contraception?
With the global population continuously increasing, there’s an urgent need for new male contraception methods for population control.
10. What are the limitations of vasectomy?
While vasectomy is effective, it has certain drawbacks that necessitate the development of improved techniques. A perfect male contraceptive should be minimally invasive, long-lasting, have minimal side effects, be reversible, and ideally be a one-time injection.
11. What makes RISUG a promising male contraceptive method?
RISUG offers a novel approach with potential for mass use as a one-time injectable and reversible male contraceptive method. Its unique features include localized injection and no detectable interaction with other body parts, unlike hormonal injectable contraceptives.
12. What are the sociological implications of male contraceptives like RISUG?
The introduction of a male contraceptive can have profound sociological effects. It can shift the responsibility of family planning and birth control from being predominantly female-centric. This can promote gender equality in relationships, as it provides men with more agency in reproductive decisions.
Furthermore, it can challenge traditional gender norms and expectations about masculinity and fertility. The accessibility of such contraceptives may also reduce unplanned pregnancies, thus promoting better family planning and economic stability for families.
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