Why there’s still no new birth control for men

Adrian Gallo’s interest in better birth control methods for men began about 10 years ago, when he was an undergraduate student with a female roommate.

“She told me about the many trials and tribulations of being a woman,” including taking birth control pills, Gallo recalled. “I remember thinking, ‘Oh my God, hormonal pills sound awful, like, truly awful,’ ” which made him wonder why contraceptive responsibilities weren’t distributed more equitably and why there weren’t broader choices for men other than condoms or vasectomies.

Fast-forward to 2022. Much has changed in Gallo’s life; he’s 32 and a PhD candidate in soil science at Oregon State University. His options for contraception, however, remain the same.