Health Report 1/23/13 Male contraceptive

Eighty percent of all women in the U.S. will use birth control at some point in their lives.

But the burden of taking birth control pills could soon be taken away from women.

Lou Baxter has the story.

It's a daily routine for a lot of women.

"I started taking birth control when I was 16."

"Around 14."

Now researchers are working on birth control, for men. What's the difficult part? Men make a thousand sperm a second! To be an effective contraceptive, the sperm count has to go down to zero!

Michael Lehmann, tried male contraceptives: "I think it's important to have more."

Michael Lehmann has been involved in five testosterone based clinical trials. He's taken daily pills, monthly injections, a cream he rubbed on his shoulder and he even had an implant.

Michael Lehmann: "There were very minor side effects, um, I had some slight acne on my scalp."

But testosterone could increase the risk of heart disease and prostate cancer. That's why Doctor John Amory is blocking vitamin A in the testies, which in turn blocks the development of sperm.

John Amory, MD, Professor of Medicine, The University of Washington School of Medicine: "I decided to explore ways of suppressing sperm without using hormones."

Tests in mice show it works 100-percent of the time. But still, some doctors are skeptical.

Sanjay Acerwall, MD, Reproductive Endocrinologist, UC San Diego: "Hahahaha a male contraceptive. I don't think women will trust it."

While it may take time for men to get used to it, choosing when to have or not have a baby could be in their hands. I'm Lou Baxter reporting.