For years, contraception was typically left up to the woman. Pills, patches, shots and intrauterine devices are among the many choices in a woman's contraceptive repertoire.

Previous attempts to create a birth control pill for men have been largely unsuccessful, but experts say times are changing. Until now, men have had few options when it comes to birth control -- those options being condoms and vasectomy.

Condoms have a user-failure rate of up to 12 percent. Vasectomies are considered permanent, although today, surgery can be done to reverse the procedure. Furthermore, couples in a steady relationship often tire of condoms, but aren't yet ready for a vasectomy.

Experts around the world have been researching alternative options for men. Now, they say new hormonal therapies for men can effectively prevent pregnancy.

Males really should take part in the family planning responsibility, so having children is a couple's responsibility. Therefore, if you don't want to have children, it should be a joint decision.

A patient who is participating in Wang's study agrees.

"I've heard too many times where, 'Oh, she said she was on the pill!' How many times have we heard that? It puts it into your hands. You decide now," he said.

It's important to give men a say in the matter as to whether or not they bring a child into the world.

Recently were developed a hormonal contraceptive for men. The technique consists of implanting rods that contain the hormones testosterone and progestin into the arms of men.

Together, those hormones suppress sperm production. Earlier studies have injected the hormones into muscles, but now implanting these rods allows a sustained source of the hormones that are needed to prevent pregnancy.

To insert the tubes under the skin, doctors use a small surgical procedure under local anesthesia. The combination of the male and the female hormones seems to be a key factor. Researchers said the combination may be more effective in turning off the signal from the pituitary gland that stimulates the testes to produce sperm. Also, the female hormone progestin may act directly on the testes to decrease sperm counts.

Studies are underway to find the optimal dose and method of delivering these hormones to males as an effective contraceptive alternative.

"We are aiming that the failure rate should be equivalent at least to the female contraceptive pill. Because they last for a long time, these implants should be really -- since it's not user-dependent -- very, very effective," said doctors.

A very important piece to this new option for men, said Wang, is that this procedure is easily reversible. Normal sperm production resumes within 12 weeks once the rods are removed from the arm. Wang said studies will continue to determine the best way to provide this option to men.