Pregnancies associated with sperm concentrations below 10 million/ml in clinical studies of a potential male contraceptive method, monthly depot medroxyprogesterone acetate and testosterone esters

Abstract

A potentialm ale contraceptivea pproachW JS evaluatedi n clinical trials involvingm onthly injectionso f depot medroxyprcgesteronaec etate and either subdennali mplantso f testosteronep ropionateo r monthly injectionso f testosteronee nanthate. Pregnancieso ccurred in partnerso f 9 men with recent sperm counts of 10 million/ml or below. In 5 of the 9 instances, the sperm counts were less than 1 million/ml. Tt appears that male contraceptivem ethods involvings permatogenics uppressionm ay requirea ttairunenatn d maintenanceo f azoospErmia. The pregnancyr ate cannot be calculated,b ecause the extent of other contraceptiveu se is uncertain. There were no spontaneous abortions. 6 pregnancies were carried to term, and all progeny were normal, based on physical examination at birth or 3 months after birth.