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Man for himself!

POPULATION control has just got its first big success in permanent contraception for men - an injection full of the male hormone, testosterone. This contraceptive, after worldwide trials on 399 couples for a two-and-a-half -year period is proving to be as reliable as birth control pills for women, said scientists on April 2. Fred Wu of Manchester University, UK, one of the 15 international centres to test the contraceptive, said, "it is really for the first time showing the world that permanent contraception for men really works." The injection, given in the buttocks, secretes the testosterone in the body and reduces the sperm count to negligible levels. Tests have also revealed that side effects were minimal. Doctors are now trying to work on a pill form of the injection to simplify its intake.

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