Men may soon have more than condoms and vasectomies in their arsenal when it comes to avoiding an unexpected bundle of joy.
A new generation of male birth control is on the horizon, with researchers working on everything from pills and gels to longer-lasting contraceptives.
And apparently, plenty of guys are eager to give them a shot.
A 2024 survey of more than 18,000 men across seven countries found that 61% would consider trying a new male contraceptive within its first year on the market, including 49% of those in the US.
One company looking to capitalize on that interest is NEXT Life Sciences, which is working on two potential options: PausePill, an on-demand drug taken before sex, and Plan A, a reversible implant designed to keep sperm at bay for years.
“We have 50,000 men who’ve signed up just from word of mouth,” L.R. Fox, founder and chairman of NEXT Life Sciences, told The Post. “We’re not actively advertising. People are signing up and saying, ‘as soon as it’s available, please.’”
Here’s everything you need to know about the two novel birth control methods — including one that may make orgasms even more pleasurable.
Male birth control for when you need it
PausePill is a non-hormonal, oral contraceptive that aims to provide about 24 hours of birth control.
NEXT envisions two ways to take it: a man could pop a pill when he wants protection, or take one every day for continuous coverage.
The pill works without shutting down sperm production. Instead, it interferes with the biological signal that tells the vas deferens — the tubes that carry sperm — to release it during ejaculation.
In theory, the rest of the experience is supposed to stay intact. Men would still be able to get an erection, have an orgasm and experience sexual pleasure, even though sperm isn’t released.
“In fact, anecdotally, we’ve heard men say that they actually have increased pleasure,” Fox said.
It’s still early days, but in a US Phase 2 trial, PausePill prevented sperm release in 100% of participants who took it within two hours. The men also reported no meaningful difference in sexual pleasure or function compared with those who received placebo, and there were no major adverse events.
Still, it was a small sample — only 10 men — and the results are preliminary. Larger trials will be needed to determine how well the drug works — and how safe it is — in a larger group of men and with repeated use.
“We are sprinting towards a larger clinical trial starting at the end of this year, 2026, with hopes to bring it to market within two years,” Fox said.
If it ultimately gets regulatory approval, PausePill would initially be available by prescription.
Set it and forget it
For men who’d rather not think about birth control every time they have sex, NEXT is working on Plan A, a reversible implant that could provide longer-term contraception.
“It’s a light switch for fertility,” Fox said. “When you’re ready, whether it’s three years or five years or 10 years from now, we’ll flip it back on.”
Plan A uses Vasalgel, a hydrogel that is inserted into the vas deferens. Rather than cutting the tubes like a vasectomy, the gel forms a flexible barrier that blocks sperm while allowing other fluids to pass through like normal.
“A vasectomy permanently shuts off that pipe by cutting it,” Fox said. “This is just a small little filter that’s put in there.”
NEXT says the procedure can be done in about 10 minutes in a doctor’s office, where the gel goes through through a tiny puncture without a scalpel or stitches.
But men won’t be able to ditch their other birth-control methods right away. Sperm already in the reproductive tract still needs time to clear, which Fox said can take up to three months, roughly the same timeline as a vasectomy.
Men would be advised to continue using another form of birth control until a doctor or at-home test confirms there’s no sperm in the ejaculate.
And when it’s time to turn fertility back on, NEXT has a separate reversal device with a solution to dissolve the gel.
In an early first-in-human study, 16 men were successfully implanted with Vasalgel. All reached azoospermia, meaning there was no measurable sperm in their ejaculate, within 14 days.
“There were no serious adverse events, and everything resolved quickly otherwise,” Fox said. “In fact, all men were able to return to work immediately.”
A second part of the study is now evaluating whether the implant can be reversed and fertility restored. Previous animal studies of the reversal process have produced positive results, Fox said, making the company have “very, very high confidence” in the regimen.
The push for male birth control isn’t coming from men alone.
A 2023 survey found that two-thirds of American women were interested in having their partners use contraception, citing shared responsibility, an extra layer of protection and avoiding side effects from their own methods.
“I believe future generations will look back and be like, in 2026, like how did you not have this?” Fox said. “It’s about time. Let’s get this done and just make this normal.”
