Young Adult Males' Perspectives of Male Hormonal Contraception [9S

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: There is an interest and willingness among men in the United States to use Male Hormonal Contraception (MHC), however, data is limited among younger men (18 to 35 years old). Our objective is to evaluate the willingness of young males to use MHC and to determine which method (pill, injection, or transdermal gel) is most desirable. METHODS: An IRB-approved survey measuring willingness to use MHC was dispersed to two distinct populations: University of Cincinnati post-graduate programs (UC) and Cincinnati Health Department (CHD) clinics. Results were reported as frequencies in each population and chi-square analyses were performed to compare groups. P-values <.05 were considered significant. RESULTS: Of 162 total survey participants, 45% would use MHC while 30.9% were unsure and 23.5% would not use MHC. Overall, the UC survey population was more likely to be interested in using MHC than the CHD population (P<.05). The majority of both populations were most interested in using the injection form. Cited concerns deterring participants from using MHC were different between these two populations, with UC participants having concern about possible failure of contraceptive method, while CHD participants had concern about potential side effects (P<.001). CONCLUSION: This study suggests that there is a significant interest among young adult males to use various forms of MHC, especially in injection or pill form. Interest in MHC is more common among individuals with an advanced educational background, employed, or in a relationship. With further research and funding, MHC may serve as a significant way to decrease unintended pregnancies in the future.