Injection for men has been developed to replace condoms and vasectomy

Painful and uncomfortable contraception for men may soon be a thing of the past. Indian doctors have announced the development of a contraceptive injection that can last up to 10 years.

According to Mail Online, the injectable is called Risug. Experts from the Indian Institute of Technology have announced the completion of its latest trials. As with vasectomy, the effect of this drug can be stopped. At the same time, the procedure for its administration is not even close to as painful.

The name Risug stands for Reversible Inhibition of Sperm Under Guidance. It is a gel whose effect is to damage the tails of sperm, making them unable to fertilise an egg. For this purpose, a polymer called styrene-maleic anhydride is used to cover the vas deferens. This chemical was originally used to coat pipes in rural water systems in India, where it was found to kill bacteria. The effect of the drug can be stopped by injecting an aqueous solution of baking soda.

So far, the drug has been tested on rabbits, rats and monkeys and proved to be effective. Several human trials have already been conducted in India and the drug is undergoing approval by the local medical authorities.

The advantage of this drug is that its effect is not based on hormones. Attempts to develop a male hormonal contraceptive in the past have led to problems such as acne and severe mood swings. These side effects are also typical of female contraceptives.

However, British medical experts worry that there will not be many people willing to use Risug. After all, there is a global trend towards abandoning sterilisation procedures, including vasectomy. And both men and women do not want to resort to such procedures.

As OBOZREVATEL previously reported, scientists are also currently working on a female contraceptive based on sperm-binding antibodies, as opposed to hormonal pills.