"Uma pílula difícil de engolir?" Representações sociais do anticoncepcional masculino no Facebook / "A hard pill to swallow?" Social representations of the male contraceptive pill on Facebook

Resumo A pílula anticoncepcional feminina é um dos principais métodos contraceptivos utilizados na atualidade; já a pílula anticoncepcional masculina, apesar de ter sido pensada há mais de 50 anos, ainda não é comercializada. O objetivo do presente trabalho é compreender aspectos psicossociais da dinâmica da sociedade em relação a novas formas contraceptivas e examinar se novas formas contraceptivas direcionadas ao corpo do homem seriam acatadas. Em março de 2018, a revista Superinteressante postou em sua página do Facebook uma reportagem sobre uma pílula anticoncepcional masculina que foi bem-sucedida em sua primeira fase de teste. A postagem gerou grande comoção e surgiram muitos comentários expressando diferentes opiniões sobre o assunto. Foram submetidos à análise de conteúdo temático-categorial 294 comentários feitos nessa postagem. Os resultados revelam que esse método contraceptivo masculino aparece inscrito em um sistema representacional que salienta discussões sobre: efeitos colaterais da medicalização, a liberdade feminina, a ampliação da responsabilidade masculina na contracepção/cuidado com os filhos, a desconfiança em relação à postura feminina e outros aspectos que remetem a possíveis avanços científicos e sociais. Os dados analisados não podem ser generalizados, mas apontam para a aceitação de novas formas contraceptivas direcionadas ao corpo masculino.

ABSTRACT The female contraceptive pill is one of the main contraceptive methods used today, while the male contraceptive pill, despite being thought of more than 50 years ago, is not yet commercialized. This work aims to understand psychosocial aspects of the dynamics of society in relation to new forms of contraception and to examine whether new forms of contraception directed to the male body would be accepted. In March 2018, the magazine Superinteressante posted on Facebook a report about a male contraceptive pill that was successful in its first test phase ; the post generated great commotion and many comments emerged expressing different opinions on the subject. 294 comments made on this post were submitted to thematic-categorical content analysis. The results indicate that this male contraceptive method appears inscribed in a representational system that highlights discussions about: side effects of medicalization, female freedom, the expansion of male responsibility in contraception/child care, distrust of the female posture and other aspects that refer to possible scientific and social advances. The analyzed data cannot be generalized, but point to the acceptance of new forms of contraception aimed at the male body.

Levels, method choice and predictors of contraceptive use among males in southern Africa

This study assessed the relative risk of using male and partner contraceptive methods relative to non-use, identified the types of methods preferred by participants, and assessed the associated determinants of the use of male and partner methods. It used secondary data from the Demographic and Health Surveys conducted in Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe. Participants were sexually active men aged 15­54. The study found that 32% of respondents did not utilize any method, while 36% and 32% used partner and male methods, respectively. The male method was more prevalent among men who had two or more sexual partners and among urban dwellers, while the partner method was predominant among those with less than two children and those who were indifferent about whether contraception is a woman's business. The study recommends that family planning programs should pay attention to male contraceptive needs and concerns. (Afr J Reprod Health 2022; 26[6]:27-35).

Quem tomará a "pílula masculina"? Reflexões sobre a construção do usuário de contraceptivos para homens / ¿Quién tomará la "píldora masculina"? Reflexiones sobre la construcción del usuario de anticonceptivos para hombres / Who will take the "male pill"? Reflections on the construction of the contraceptive user for men

Resumo O objetivo do artigo é analisar como é concebido o usuário de um anticoncepcional masculino por um ator relevante no campo, a organização não governamental estadunidense Male Contraception Initiative. A partir de uma abordagem socioantropológica, utilizamos a técnica de análise de documentos para compreender como ali se configuram a aceitação e o perfil dos possíveis consumidores de tal tecnologia. Observamos que a construção do homem usuário se realiza com base em uma concepção igualitária dos direitos reprodutivos, enfatizando o direito de os homens - assim como as mulheres - terem autonomia e controle sobre a própria fertilidade. Há uma expansão do perfil do usuário em relação a tentativas anteriores de disponibilização de uma "pílula masculina", mas, ao enfocar a noção dos homens como sujeitos de direitos reprodutivos, tal construção pode gerar conflitos com questões centrais dos movimentos feministas.

Resumen El objetivo del artículo es analizar cómo el usuario de un anticonceptivo masculino es concebido por un actor relevante en el campo, la ONG estadounidense Male Contraception Initiative. A partir de un enfoque socioantropológico, utilizamos la técnica de análisis de documentos para comprender cómo la ONG configura la aceptación y los consumidores de tal tecnología. Observamos que la construcción del hombre usuario se realiza con base en una concepción igualitaria de los derechos reproductivos, enfatizando el derecho de los hombres - así como las mujeres - tener autonomía y control sobre la propia fertilidad. Hay una expansión del perfil del usuario en relación a intentos anteriores de disponibilización de una "píldora masculina", pero, al enfocar la noción de los hombres como sujetos de derechos reproductivos, tal construcción puede generar conflictos con cuestiones centrales de los movimientos feministas.

Abstract This article analyzes how the American NGO Male Contraception Initiative - a relevant actor in the field - conceives the male contraceptive user. The ways this NGO is shaping both acceptance and consumers of that technology are examined from a social anthropological perspective and through document analysis. We observe that the construction of the male user is based on a concept of equality of reproductive rights, emphasizing the right of men as well as women to have autonomy and control over their own fertility. While there is an expansion of the user's profile compared to previous attempts to make a "male pill" available, a closer look on the notion of men as subject of reproductive rights reveals that such a construction may cause conflicts with central issues of feminist movements.

Safety & efficacy of an intravasal, one-time injectable & non-hormonal male contraceptive (RISUG): A clinical experience

Background & objectives: For improved male contraception, a new polymeric drug molecule – Reversible Inhibition of Sperm under Guidance (RISUG) has been synthesized and has been found to be effective, safe and reversible in various animal species. Phase-I and phase-II clinical trials have confirmed its safety and contraceptive efficacy. The present study was undertaken as a multicentric-limited phase-III clinical trial to test the efficacy and safety of RISUG in human volunteers. Methods: One hundred and thirty nine young males each having at least two children and living with wife were given 120 ?l of RISUG as bilateral vas intraluminal injection. After the single-dose administration, the individuals were followed in respect of general health and semen parameters. Their wives were also followed particularly to determine onset of pregnancy. Results: During the six month follow up, the health of male volunteers and their wives was normal with no significant adverse effects. Temporary scrotal enlargement and mild scrotal and inguinal region pain were manifested in most individuals and resolved within one month without any routine activity impairment. In six individuals, there was injection procedure failure and azoospermia was not achieved. The other 133 individuals had either severe oligozoospermia or azoospermia at the first semen examination one month following RISUG injection; 82.7 per cent individuals had continued azoospermia in the month following first semen examination onwards and the rest 17.3 per cent manifested azoospermia within three to six months. Interpretation & conclusions: RISUG intravasal injection appears to be a safe clinical procedure with no significant adverse effects and has high sustained contraceptive efficacy. The localized intervention and continued contraceptive action on single-dose administration were significant features of the RISUG technology.

"O problema é a enorme produção de espermatozoides": concepções de corpo no campo da contracepção masculina / "The problem is the vast production of sperm": conceptions of body in the field of male contraception

Resumo Desde o final dos anos 1960, há tentativas de produção de um contraceptivo masculino reversível com eficácia equivalente à da pílula anticoncepcional. Até hoje, esse produto não foi lançado, e as justificativas para tal baseiam-se em entraves de ordem política, econômica, cultural e biológica. O argumento do obstáculo fisiológico tem bastante proeminência nessas explicações e será o nosso foco neste artigo. Com base nos estudos de gênero e ciência, buscamos compreender como esse raciocínio aparece no trabalho de viabilização dessa tecnologia por um ator de destaque no campo, a organização não governamental (ONG) estadunidense Male Contraception Initiative. Por meio da técnica de análise de documentos e com base na metodologia de análise do discurso, buscamos compreender como o corpo masculino é representado e, consequentemente, materializado nesse processo de viabilização de uma "pílula masculina", e debater o caráter generificado das concepções e intervenções biomédicas. Observa-se que a função reprodutiva dos homens cisgêneros é construída como complexa e, em certo sentido, resistente a intervenções farmacológicas. Tal caracterização se dá em comparação com o corpo feminino cisgênero, que é configurado como mais acessível para a realização da contracepção. A tradicional associação entre mulheres e reprodução e homens e sexo é facilmente reconhecida nessas perspectivas.

Abstract Since the late 1960s, attempts have been made to produce a reversible male contraceptive with efficacy equivalent to that of the contraceptive pill. To date, this product has not been launched and the justifications for this are based on political, economic, cultural and biological barriers. The argument of a physiological obstacle has a lot of prominence in these explanations and will be our focus in this article. From the perspective of gender and science studies, we aim to understand how this argument appears in current efforts to promote this technology by a prominent actor in the field, the US NGO Male Contraception Initiative (MCI). By using the document analysis technique and the methodology of discourse analysis, we aim to understand how the male body is represented and, thus, how it is materialized in this process of developing a "male pill", and to discuss the gendered character of biomedical conceptions and interventions in the field of contraception. We observed that the reproductive function of cisgender men is constructed as complex and, in a sense, as resistant to pharmacological interventions. Such characterization occurs in comparison with the female cisgender body, which is seen as more accessible for contraception. The traditional association between women and reproduction and men and sex is easily recognized in these perspectives.

Seeds of mimusops elengi linn- an antifertility drug.

The study involves a standard pharmacological model to screen antifertility activity of seeds of Mimusops elengi Linn. When the aqueous powdered drug (2gm/body weight) was administered to male albino rats has proved to be an effective male contraceptive drug. The activity was confirmed by significant decrease in sperm count, biochemical assays so also through histopathological investigations. Hence seeds of Mimusops elengi can be a reliable herbal option after the necessary clinical trials.

Antifertility effect of madhuca latifolia (ROXB.) macbride seed extract.

The study involves a standard pharmacological model to test antifertility activity of seeds of Madhuca latifolia (Roxb.) Macbride. When the aqueous powdered drug (2gm/body weight) was administered to male albino rats has proved to be an effective antifertility drug. The activity was confirmed by significant decrease in sperm count, biochemical assays so also through histopathological investigations. Hence seeds of Madhuca latifolia can be a reliable herbal option after the necessary clinical trials.