What if contraception finally became a truly shared responsibility? In Lille, a team of researchers is currently working on "STEOM," presented as the "world's first male IUD." Hormone-free, reversible, and inserted in minutes, this device could well change the way heterosexual couples approach contraception in the years to come.<\/p>\n
The "STEOM" device works on a mechanical principle similar to that of a female IUD: preventing sperm from passing through without altering hormones or permanently blocking fertility. The device is inserted during a minor procedure performed under local anesthesia. The operation lasts about fifteen minutes and requires a small incision in the scrotum. According to the doctors behind the project, no stitches or extensive dressings are necessary.<\/p>\n
Designed to remain in place for three years, the device can then be removed or replaced by a trained professional. The objective is clear: to offer a simple, non-hormonal, reversible male contraceptive method.<\/p>\n
The project was initiated by andrologist Julie Prasivoravong<\/a> , who wanted to expand the contraceptive options available to men. Currently, male options remain limited: condoms, so-called "natural" methods, or vasectomy, often perceived as permanent despite its sometimes reversible nature.<\/p>\n The "STEOM" was therefore conceived as a more flexible alternative. The project is led by the Lille University Hospital, in collaboration with the University of Li\u00e8ge and several researchers specializing in medical technologies. The idea is already gaining traction because it addresses a question increasingly present in discussions surrounding contraception: why does this burden still fall primarily on women?<\/p>\n Preclinical trials<\/a> began in May 2026 at the University of Li\u00e8ge. If the results are deemed satisfactory, clinical trials should then be conducted on around one hundred volunteers in France and Belgium.<\/p>\n Before it can be marketed, the device will have to go through numerous regulatory hurdles. The "STEOM" belongs to a highly regulated category of medical devices, with particularly strict safety requirements. As a result, it will likely be between 7 and 10 years before it potentially reaches the market.<\/p>\n The arrival of "STEOM" also reignites a well-known debate: that of sharing the contraceptive burden<\/a> . Even today, the majority of contraceptive methods used rely on women's bodies. The pill, hormonal IUD, implant, or patch often involve significant physical, mental, or hormonal constraints.<\/p>\n At the same time, more and more men are opting for vasectomies. In France, the number of procedures has increased sharply in recent years, a sign that a segment of the male population wants to be more involved in contraception. "STEOM" could therefore represent a new step in this trend.<\/p>\n On social media, one point keeps coming up in discussions: many women point out how striking it is to see the emergence of so-called male contraception specifically designed to be "hormone-free," while women have been using hormonal contraceptives for decades, sometimes with significant side effects. Weight gain, migraines, decreased libido, fatigue, or emotional fluctuations: many women regularly share their difficult experiences with certain hormonal methods.<\/p>\n For some online commentators, this contrast highlights a historical difference in how medicine has approached contraception based on gender. Others, however, point out that expanding contraceptive options for men remains a positive step forward, especially if it leads to a better distribution of contraceptive responsibility within couples.<\/p>\n In summary, with "STEOM," male contraception enters a new phase of reflection. And beyond medical innovation, this project primarily opens the door to a broader conversation about shared responsibility, listening to bodies, and the diversity of contraceptive choices.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"What if contraception finally became a truly shared responsibility? In Lille, a team of researchers is currently working...","protected":false},"author":8395,"featured_media":441503,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"disable_msn":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5639],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-441479","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-bien-etre"],"image":{"medium":["https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/sterilet-pour-homme-revolutionner-contraception-200x113.jpg",200,113,true],"large":["https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/sterilet-pour-homme-revolutionner-contraception-500x281.jpg",500,281,true]},"custom":{"td_video":"","featured_image":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/sterilet-pour-homme-revolutionner-contraception.jpg","author":{"name":"Clelia Campardon","avatar":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/clelia-96x96.jpg"},"categories":[{"term_id":5639,"name":"Well-being","slug":"bien-etre","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":5804,"taxonomy":"category","description":" The Well-being section of The Body Optimist shares practical advice on staying active, sleeping better, managing stress and understanding everyday aches and pains. Written for women of every size and body type, it starts from a simple idea: taking care of your body works best through enjoyment and consistency, not pressure or guilt.<\/p>\n When you return to physical activity, consistency matters more than intensity. A few ways to ease back in:<\/p>\n Everyday movement counts too: walking or biking to get around, taking the stairs and gardening all add up as physical activity.<\/p>\n Here, your body isn't a project to fix. We talk about exercise for pleasure, mood and health, never as a way to \u201cmake up for\u201d a meal or to lose weight, and every tip should work for you whatever your body type. The articles in this section provide general information and do not replace advice from a healthcare professional.<\/p>\n The World Health Organization recommends that adults get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity per week, such as brisk walking. It also stresses that some activity is better than none: every session counts, even a short one, and what matters most is finding a pace you can keep up over the long run.<\/p>\n Consistency is the first lever: go to bed and get up at similar times, weekends included. A quiet, dark, cool bedroom, less screen time in the evening and a dinner that isn't too late all make it easier to fall asleep. Loud snoring or waking up gasping for air is worth mentioning to your doctor.<\/p>\n Ongoing fatigue can have many causes: lack of sleep, stress or mental overload, but also iron deficiency, a thyroid disorder or depression. If it lasts several weeks despite rest, or comes with other symptoms, see your doctor to find out what's behind it.<\/p>\n Want to go further? Explore all our topics in the Health section<\/a>, follow moms-to-be in the Pregnancy section<\/a> and enjoy a varied way of eating, without restriction, with the Nutrition section<\/a>.<\/p>","parent":360,"count":1718,"filter":"raw","cat_ID":5639,"category_count":1718,"category_description":" The Well-being section of The Body Optimist shares practical advice on staying active, sleeping better, managing stress and understanding everyday aches and pains. Written for women of every size and body type, it starts from a simple idea: taking care of your body works best through enjoyment and consistency, not pressure or guilt.<\/p>\n When you return to physical activity, consistency matters more than intensity. A few ways to ease back in:<\/p>\n Everyday movement counts too: walking or biking to get around, taking the stairs and gardening all add up as physical activity.<\/p>\n Here, your body isn't a project to fix. We talk about exercise for pleasure, mood and health, never as a way to \u201cmake up for\u201d a meal or to lose weight, and every tip should work for you whatever your body type. The articles in this section provide general information and do not replace advice from a healthcare professional.<\/p>\n The World Health Organization recommends that adults get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity per week, such as brisk walking. It also stresses that some activity is better than none: every session counts, even a short one, and what matters most is finding a pace you can keep up over the long run.<\/p>\n Consistency is the first lever: go to bed and get up at similar times, weekends included. A quiet, dark, cool bedroom, less screen time in the evening and a dinner that isn't too late all make it easier to fall asleep. Loud snoring or waking up gasping for air is worth mentioning to your doctor.<\/p>\n Ongoing fatigue can have many causes: lack of sleep, stress or mental overload, but also iron deficiency, a thyroid disorder or depression. If it lasts several weeks despite rest, or comes with other symptoms, see your doctor to find out what's behind it.<\/p>\n Want to go further? Explore all our topics in the Health section<\/a>, follow moms-to-be in the Pregnancy section<\/a> and enjoy a varied way of eating, without restriction, with the Nutrition section<\/a>.<\/p>","cat_name":"Well-being","category_nicename":"bien-etre","category_parent":360}]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/441479","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8395"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=441479"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/441479\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":441506,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/441479\/revisions\/441506"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/441503"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=441479"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=441479"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=441479"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}} Clinical trials are planned for the coming years.<\/h2>\n
Contraception is still largely used by women<\/h2>\n
A detail that is already causing debate<\/h2>\n
What you'll find in the Well-being section<\/h2>\n
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How do you get back into exercise after a long break?<\/h2>\n
\n
Our approach<\/h2>\n
Articles to get you started<\/h2>\n
\n
Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n
How much exercise do you need each week?<\/h3>\n
How can you sleep better?<\/h3>\n
Why am I tired all the time?<\/h3>\n
What you'll find in the Well-being section<\/h2>\n
\n
How do you get back into exercise after a long break?<\/h2>\n
\n
Our approach<\/h2>\n
Articles to get you started<\/h2>\n
\n
Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n
How much exercise do you need each week?<\/h3>\n
How can you sleep better?<\/h3>\n
Why am I tired all the time?<\/h3>\n