THE doctor behind a male contraceptive injection said yesterday plans were under way to make it effective for up to fours months.
The World Health Organisation has said the injection method is as effective as the female pill in preventing pregnancy. However, its main drawback at present is that it requires a weekly jab.
"We've already started new studies in using tablets and patches and later this year we will be investigating a longer acting injection which would last for four months," said Dr Fred Wu, of Manchester University.
"Technical developments will take about five to seven years and after that it will be up to the companies," added Dr Wu, senior lecturer in endocrinology.
Results from two year tests on 400 volunteers show that the injection can be effective in almost 99 per cent of men. Earlier research had established sperm counts in 60 per cent of men could be reduced to zero by the weekly injections, without affecting sexual functions or virility. Dr Wu's team completed trials in 5 centres around the world showing that it could be equally effective in a further 38.6 per cent of men.