For decades birth-control pills have been a women-only affair. Not any more, it seems.

Researchers are now inching closer to discovering a contraceptive pill for men.

Men will soon have the options of a daily oral pill, a patch or gel to be applied to the skin, an injection given every three months or an implant placed under the skin every 12 months as birth control methods.

For the first time, safe, effective and reversible hormonal male contraceptives are expected in the market.

"The technology is there and we know how it would work. In the next few years, it will be in the market," says Andrea Coviello, who is helping to test several male contraceptives at the Population Centre for Research in Reproduction at the University of Washington in Seattle.

Dr Coviello and her colleagues have found that a male contraceptive that releases testosterone over three months is potentially a safe and practical method of contraception.

The Seattle researchers have been testing a testosterone microcapsule that, they say, will be in the market in three to five year.

In various clinical tests in the US and China, the male contraceptive pill has recorded 99 per cent success rate.

The male pill, which is hormone-based, would eliminate or block majority of sperm a man produces without causing significant side effects or affecting a man’s masculinity or sexuality, the doctors say.

It aims at giving a man extra testosterone, which can essentially shut down the release of sperm-producing hormones.

Researchers have found out that if there are always high doses of testosterone in the bloodstream, they continually tell the brain that the testes are producing enough sperm, which shuts off the release of fertility hormones.

Testosterone is responsible for the development of sexual characteristics, including muscle mass and facial hair growth in men and sperm production in the testes.

The researchers are however warning that giving a man excess amount of testosterone can cause several side effects, including acne, weight gain, prostate-gland growth and abnormal liver function.

The researchers are also looking into non-hormonal methods to lower sperm count or somehow disable the sperm so that they cannot fertilise an egg.

They are seeking a way to inactivate the tails that enable sperm to swim to the egg and fertilise it.

Some men interviewed by The Standard on Sunday say the development should be handled cautiously.

But local reproductive health experts welcome the development.

However, they advise an awareness campaign is important before embracing the pill.

Mr George Kagwa, who is Behaviour Change and Communication Advisor for Path International, says the contraceptive is a major breakthrough in reproductive health.

"This is a good development that has taken too long to come," he adds.

It would offer men choices in family planning, Mr Kagwa says.

"For long men have been left at the periphery in family planning. They are forced to use uncomfortable methods because of lack of choices.

"The pill would empower men to make a decision, which involves more than just a condom," he says.

Kagwa, who worked as a programme officer at the Family Planning Association of Kenya for 10 years, says: "A lot of education is needed for people to understand and psyche them up so that when the pill is introduced to the market, they will be receptive."

Peter Apamo, a reproductive health expert, says though it may face resistance in initial stages, it will eventually gain acceptance.

He adds that men are very cautious in matters that touch on their reproductive health.

"Men are very sensitive on matters of sexuality and this may take some time before they fully embrace it," Mr Apamo says.

He advises men to welcome the development as a way of supporting women in family planning.