(613) Use of Thermal Testicular Contraception: A Mixed-Method Approach Exploring Users and Their Partners’ Experiences

Introduction Most contraceptive are directed towards people with a uterus, with contraception being mainly seen as a female responsibility. For people with testicles, reversible options are limited. Thermal testicular contraception (TTC), developed in France in the 1980’s, is based on the thermal dependence of spermatogenesis. This method involves wearing a device such as a specialized underwear or a silicon ring, for 15 to 24 hours per day, to maintain the testis near the external inguinal canal. This positioning increases the testicular temperature by approximately 2°C, inhibiting sperm production. Studies have shown that after discontinuing the use of the device, semen parameters return to baseline levels. However, research on TTC are scarce and no device has yet been approved or standardized. Despite this, a growing number of individuals are using this method, but little is known about their experiences or those of their partner. As part of a risk reduction approach, healthcare professionals should be able to provide appropriate and evidence-based counseling to TTC users and their partners regarding their practices. Objective This project was designed to describe the profile of TTC users, to explore their and their partner’s lived experience and relationship dynamic during their first year of use, and to describe the effect of TTC on semen parameters and reported pregnancies. Methods We adopted a mixed-method approach in this project. Thirty-four participants were initially included in the study. They completed questionnaires and underwent semen analysis, assessing sperm concentration and motility. The contraceptive threshold was defined as below 1 million sperm per mL. A total of 19 participants and 12 of their partner’s provided in-depth qualitative interview, which were analysed thematically. We present here the preliminary results of this study. Results The majority of the participants (88%) were contracepted at least once during the study, while 38.2% reported dissatisfaction with their contraceptive method before TTC. In the questionnaire, most participants highlighted the importance of a better distribution of contraceptive load (97.1%) and of a political engagement/activism (67.7%) as their motivation for using TTC. Qualitative data depicted a more nuanced experience, with contraceptive dissatisfaction being the main drive for seeking alternatives. Almost half of the participants (47.1%) experienced side effects during the first 3 months of TTC use, which decreased down to 6.7% at 9 months. Qualitative data showed that they were deemed as acceptable. Overall, participant’s satisfaction with TTC was high (>90%). Conclusions Altogether, these findings underline the importance of further developing, studying and promoting contraceptive options for people with testicles. Disclosure No