A new survey spanning Germany, France, Italy, Poland, Sweden, Türkiye, and the United Kingdom reveals that most European men are willing to use contraception designed for them, provided such products become available. The findings, presented on Tuesday, indicate a significant shift in attitudes toward male contraceptive methods.
Out of the 14,000 men surveyed, more than half in every country said they would start using a novel male contraceptive within 12 months of its approval. Only 9% said they would never use one. The willingness ranged from 55% in Sweden and Denmark to 69% in the United Kingdom.
Currently, the only contraceptive options for men are condoms and vasectomy. The vast majority of contraceptive methods on the market are designed for women, from hormonal IUDs to oral contraceptive pills. However, at least eight novel male contraceptive products are in various stages of clinical trials, including on-demand pills taken before sex, a daily pill, a daily hormonal gel, a long-acting vas-occlusive hydrogel, and a thermal silicone ring.
While a third of men willing to use male contraception said they would do so within three months of a product hitting the market, they may have to wait longer. According to researchers, the primary obstacle is funding.
“The contraceptive field has just been funded almost exclusively by the philanthropic and public sector for 30 years now. So, there's just not a pathway that pharma has been involved,” said Heather Vahdat, executive director of Male Contraception Initiative, a non-profit organisation working on non-hormonal, reversible male contraception.
Men who expressed interest in using these products cited greater autonomy, protection from unwanted pregnancies, dissatisfaction with condom use, and a desire to relieve women of the burden of protection, said Steve Kretschmer, executive director of DesireLine, which conducted the survey.
Perception and preference
Another barrier is the perception and acceptance of the broader population, including women. “I think one of the key issues has been this belief that, well, men may not feel the interest and that women may not trust them,” Kretschmer added.
When asked which method they would prefer, a non-hormonal pill taken 30 minutes before sex emerged as the most popular choice in every country, followed by a daily pill. The vas-occlusive hydrogel — a non-hormonal and non-permanent gel that blocks sperm transport — reached 12% acceptance in Germany and France, while the silicone ring, which warms the testicles to reduce sperm production, was more accepted in Türkiye.
Of all respondents, 10% of men in the United Kingdom said they would not use any of the products — the lowest share — while Italy and France recorded the highest, at 17%. The survey also noted that men who were more sexually active or visited the doctor more frequently showed greater interest.
Currently, condoms are the most common contraceptive method among men, but only half of users use them every time, the survey found. If men who are currently unprotected were to use contraception as stated in the survey, overall coverage would increase across Europe, ranging from a 31% rise in France to a 73% rise in the UK.
The survey was presented on the same day the World Health Organization (WHO) released its new Target Product Profiles (TPPs) guide for male contraceptives, stating that the main goal is to expand choices and reduce the disproportionate contraceptive burden on women. This aligns with broader discussions on gender equity in health, as seen in the gender pay gap in Europe's health sector.
The findings come amid growing interest in male contraception as a way to share reproductive responsibility. While the road to market remains long, the survey suggests that demand is real and could reshape the contraceptive landscape in Europe.
