A male birth control shot exists and is nearly 96 percent effective at preventing pregnancy, researchers found, but a study on the contraceptive ended early after men taking it reported negative side effects including mood swings, an altered libido and acne.

In other words, they experienced side effects faced by women already taking birth control every day.

In the study, published last week in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, found only four pregnancies resulted among 266 men who used the contraceptive. The method involved a series of injections that lowered sperm count.

While the study occurred between 2008 and 2012, researchers stopped enrolling new participants in 2011 because of the rate of reported side effects, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported. Twenty couples even dropped out of the study because of adverse symptoms.

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In the study, published last week in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, found only four pregnancies resulted among 266 men who used the contraceptive. (AP)

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