Development of methods of male contraception: impact of the World Health Organization Task Force.
OBJECTIVE
To give an historical record of the research of the World Health Organization (WHO) Task Force to develop methods of male contraception; to examine the social, political, medical, pharmaceutical, funding, and other factors that influenced progress; and to suggest reasons why such methods are only now becoming available.


METHODS
Review of basic and clinical research over 30 years.


METHODS
Task force of a multinational agency and collaborating agencies.


CONCLUSIONS
Through the involvement of many international scientists, the WHO Task Force has uniquely contributed to the exploratory phases of the research in male contraception and by its multicenter contraceptive efficacy studies has accelerated progress towards the ideal hormonal method. Despite an adverse climate involving social and political attitudes, funding constraints, and pharmaceutical industry hesitation, WHO formed coalitions with governments and international agencies to sustain research with results that apply to men in culturally diverse populations and thereby to influence activities across the whole range of global reproductive health and family planning.
Waites
Geoffrey M H
GM
Institute of Reproductive Medicine, University of Münster, Münster, Germany. gmhw@mail.usyd.edu.au
D026683:Advisory Committees; D003267:Contraception / Q000379:methods*; D003272:Contraceptive Agents, Male; D003275:Contraceptive Devices, Male; D003276:Contraceptives, Oral; D005193:Family Planning Services / Q000379:methods*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D014944:World Health Organization
D003272:Contraceptive Agents, Male; D003276:Contraceptives, Oral