Aim:TopresentapersonalaccountoftheinvolvementoftheWorldHealthOrganization(WHO)inthecollaborativedevelopmentinAsiaofthoseareasofandmlogyconcernedwithmalecontraceptionandreproductivehealth.Methods:TheandrologytrainingthroughworkshopsandinstitutionsupportundertakenbytheWHOHumanReproductionProgramme(HRP)andhowtheycontributedtothestrengtheningofaudrologyresearchinAsiaaresummadsed.Results:Theauthor'sexperienceandtheAsianscientificcontributionstotheglobalresearchinthefollowingareasarereviewed:thesafetyofvasectomyandthedevelopmentofnewmethodsofvasocclusion;gossypolanditsfailuretobecomeasafe,reversiblemaleantifeltilitydrug;Tripterygiumandwhetheritspuleextractswillpassypolthroughtheappropriatetoxicologyandphasedclinicalstudiestobecomeacceptablecontraceptivedrugs;hormonalmethodsofcontraceptionformen.Conclusion:TheWHOpolicyofresearchcapacitybuildingthroughtrainingandinstitutionstrengthening,togetherwiththecollaborationofAsianandrologists,hascreatedstrongNationalinstitutionsnowabletodirecttheirownprogrammesofresearchinclinicalandscientificandrology.(AsianJAndrol1999Jun;1:7-12)
