Male Hormonal Contraceptive (MHC)

Male hormonal contraception can be an end to all the contraceptive worries. It is a convenient and safe method of contraception with a high accuracy rate. The effectiveness varies depending on the method of administration. Have a quick glance on MHC and its side effects.MHC is considered to be a very convenient option for contraception depending on the manner in which it is delivered and the frequency of the dosage. Read on to know more about the method of delivery of MHC, its side effects and reversal. In this articleThe Method of Delivery of MHCThe Side Effects of MHCThe Reversal Period for MHCThe Method of Delivery of MHC MHC involves the administration of androgens and it becomes effective only after it is injected into the muscle. One needs to visit a clinic in order to receive this intramuscular shot only from an experienced nurse or physician. The formulation can be injected every two three months. If the injections are administered in an infrequent manner, it might well result in a lack of effectiveness and there might also be certain side effects. These effects are caused due to the fluctuating and patchy levels of androgen. The amount of active androgen in the blood stream causes all the havoc. It is vital to ensure that the testosterone levels are even. So an injection is usually followed by a spike. This results in the return of the sperm in the ejaculation. Due to these side effects researchers are considering viable alternative to MHC injection. They are investigating the effectiveness of implants, pills, patches and even creams. Implants can be active for several months at a stretch and the androgen levels can remain steady all through out. They are placed in and removed with the aid of a minor surgery. The only risk involved is its possibility of breaking the skin above it and that too a minor 3-7% one. But the other four that is pills, patches and creams have not been able to deliver satisfactory outcomes. The Side Effects of MHC There can be a wide array of side effects that can vary in men going for MHC. Some of the common ones are: Slight weight gain in the lean muscle mass of the bodyA possible breakout of acneFrequent mood variations Doctors opine that these side effects are actually attributed the synthetic androgen present in the MHC dose. These can also be easily minimised by effective tailoring of the androgen dosage and the manner in which it is delivered. But just like the known side effects of the female contraceptive pill, the MHC will also have certain side effects that cannot be totally done away with. Another side effect that can be of concern follows from the deliberate alteration of the process of androgen metabolism in the man. It is depressed to high density lipoprotein cholesterol or HDL-C. It becomes a constituent of the blood and this is basically regarded as the healthy variety of cholesterol that also correlates with lowering the danger of atherosclerosis that is where the arteries get hardened. So this is of course not desirable if the levels are depressed. In clinical trials it has been observed that the drop is as mush as 15%. This side effect cannot be completely eliminated and men, who stand the risk of heart diseases, are advised against using the MHC. Screening is also on to test the effect of the MHC on the prostrate gland of the man. The Reversal Period for MHC The effects of the MHC contraceptive can be reversed within a period of 4-6 months. After the treatment is stopped, the body resumes in making the hormones at a level that was there during the pretreatment state. After the restoration of the hormones, the first immature sperm is produced in the seminiferous tubules. The sperm becomes completely functional within two and half months. It is interesting to note that some men may not respond to MHC and researchers are not well equipped with a viable explanation to this. The formulation and the delivery method are the presumed factors that cause around 5-20% men during the trials to remain ineffective to MHC. It has also been observed that men with higher body mass (fat) are the common non-responders.