A cruel joke in the male contraceptives field is that a viable product has been "five years away" from market since the 1970s.

This time, though, medical-device developers say they may actually be five years away from commercializing a new male contraceptive.

As for when they might hit the market and be available for use? That could still be 10 years away, leaving condoms and vasectomies as the only male contraceptive options for now.

Innovators in the field of male contraceptives are "scrappy," small and underfunded, according to executives at Male Contraceptive Initiative, or MCI, which facilitates research and development of nonhormonal products to prevent pregnancy.

"Real developments are showing real promise making their way through the pipeline," said Logan Nickels, MCI's director of operations and programs. "And among the general public, these are things people want and will use — which was a case people had trouble making before."

Story: Male-contraceptive developers seek reproductive equity amid limited options

Story: Seasonality of cold, flu offers predictability of over-the-counter pharma sales

US House lawmakers take aim at surprise medical bills in new bipartisan effort

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Gilead CEO defends HIV drug Truvada's price, insists CDC patents invalid

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Johnson & Johnson expects pharma division to surpass $50B in sales by 2023

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Trump administration drops proposal to let Medicare plans exclude certain drugs

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Witnesses: Health effects of climate change costly; seniors, young hit hardest

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UK's Wellcome Trust launches snakebite fund

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Essential Healthcare is a weekly collection of critical developments across the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, healthcare provider, healthcare technology and medical equipment industries that draws on exclusive analysis and value-added content from the Healthcare News team at S&P Global Market Intelligence. Subscribe now to get Essential Healthcare delivered to your inbox every week.