Comparison of the potency of d-propranolol, chlorhexidine and nonoxynol-9 in the Sander-Cramer test

The potency of two new candidate spermicides, d-propranolol and chlorhexidine, was compared with an established agent nonoxynol-9 by the Sander-Cramer test. The lowest concentrations of nonoxynol-9, d-propranolol and chlorhexidine which consistently inhibited progressive forward sperm motility within twenty seconds were found to be 0.12, 0.44, and 4.81 mg/ml, respectively. These relative potencies and other properties of d-propranolol and chlorhexidine indicate that they should be further investigated as alternatives to nonoxynol-9 in spermicidal preparations.