The world's first form of male birth control is set to be released in India soon.
According to scientists spearheading the project, the product will still take about six to seven months, but "is ready, with only regulatory approvals pending," said
Dr R.S Sharma, a senior scientist with the ICMR to the Hindustan Times.
The contraceptive will be administered through an injection to the Vas deferens, a duct in a man's body close to the testicles while the male is under local anaesthesia.
The drug is reported to last up to 13-years before it loses its effect and is meant to be a substitution for a vasectomy. According to Dr Sharma, in the clinical trials, there was a 97.3 percent success rate and no reported side-effects.
The form of birth control is called a polymer, which is made of long, repeating chains of molecules and the contraceptive, called reversible inhibition of sperm under guidance (RISUG), is made of a compound called Styrene Maleic Anhydride.
"The product can safely be called the world's first male contraceptive," said Dr Sharma to the Hindustan Times.
The scientist is currently waiting on the approval of the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI).
