This review addresses the varied history of male contraception as it applies to nonsteroidal materials. Some of the antispermatogenic agents discussed are 1) hormonally active agents; 2) luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone analogs; 3) non-hormonal agents such as nitrofurans alkylating agents thiophenes bis-diamines dinintropyrroles fluoroacetamide 1-substituted 5-nitroimidazoles organosiloxanes prostaglandins pipecolinomethylhydroxyindanes 5-Thio-D-glucose 1-substituted indazole-3-carboxylic acids and indenopyridines; 3) epididymal action agents such as alpha-chlorohydrin 6-halo sugars sulfasalazine and gossypol; and 4) post-epididymal action agents--phenoxybenzamine and 1-substituted imidazoles. This review demonstrates that contrary to popular belief the achievement of a male contraceptive has been a major scientific goal for the past 35 years; most of the theoretically possible sites of action have been explored. They range from inhibition of spermatogenesis via the pituitary gonadotropins to direct testicular effects on specific cell divisions. Spermatozoal maturation and epididymal function have been attacked as have sperm motility metabolism and fertilizability. With time attention has shifted from the testis to later and later post-testicular phases culminating in the recently described materials which accumulate in accessory organ secretions to be mixed with sperm only at the moment of ejaculation. At the present time there are more potential male contraceptive agents in clinical trial or under animal evaluation than at any previous time in history.