Prototype male pills and testosterone implants, produced in the Netherlands, 1999

Made:: 1999 in Netherlands

maker:: Organon International

Four pills and two implants for the prototype male

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Four pills and two implants for the prototype male
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Four pills and two implants for the prototype male contraceptive pill manufactured by Organon, Netherlands, and used by Edinburgh University during successful trials in 1999. Due to the size of pills available the volunteers had to take four pills a day, and two implants every twelve weeks. Each pill contains 75 mcg of desogestrel, making a total of 300mcg, each implant contains 200mg of testosterone making a total of 400mg.

In 1999, Edinburgh University conducted trials to develop an oral male contraceptive. A pill containing the active ingredient desogestrel was taken four times daily. Two implants containing testosterone were inserted under the skin on the abdomen. These remained effective for three months. The implants were needed because the pill stopped the production of testosterone as well as sperm. The Edinburgh trials reduced the sperm count of the 60 men involved to zero.

Details

Category:: Obstetrics, Gynaecology & Contraception

Object Number:: 2002-556

Materials:: cardboard and plastic (unidentified)

Measurements:: overall: 20 mm x 110 mm x 45 mm, .12kg

type:: testosterone implant

credit:: Organon, Netherlands

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Parts

Implants for the Prototype Male Contraceptive Pill, 1999

Two implants, each containing 200mg of testosterone, for the male contraceptive pill manufactured by Organon, Netherlands. 85 mm x 10 mm, 7 g each. Edinburgh University used these implants in combination with pills during successful trials in 1999, volunteers had to take four pills daily and two implants were inserted in the abdomen every twelve weeks. The implant is stored with cotton wool in a glass container to ensure that it is sterile, the glass must be broken to remove the implant. One implant is in a plastic tray in a box with instructions, the other is just in a plastic tray. Organon Laboratories Ltd., Netherlands, 1999.

Materials:: complete , cotton wool , glass and testosterone

Object Number:: 2002-556 Pt2

type:: contraceptive and testosterone

Pills for the Prototype Male Contraceptive Pill, 1999

Four pills, each containing 75mcg of desogestrel, for the male contraceptive pill manufactured by Organon, Netherlands. Edinburgh University used these pills in combination with implants during successful trials in 1999, volunteers had to take four pills daily and had two implants inserted every twelve weeks. The four pills are in an unlabelled plastic container.