Study Finds Male Contraceptive Pills to be Effective in Preventing Pregnancy.
Researchers have discovered an oral contraceptive that is 99 percent effective in both mice and humans.
The idea is that men can take the pill an hour before sexual activity and then concentrate on timing as the effects wear off.
Women have been using hormonal contraceptives for years, while men have only condoms as contraception.
The female contraceptive pill does not contain any hormones, and scientists cite this as one of its benefits. They are investigating a method that will not remove testosterone or cause testosterone-related side effects.
Instead, the “swimming sperm” switch targets soluble adenyl cyclase or SAC, a cell-signaling protein. Male contraceptives inhibit the SAC.
In a previous study conducted on mice and funded by the US National Institutes of Health, a single dose of the drug TDI-11861 inhibited sperm before, during, and after sexual activity. The effect lasted approximately three hours, and after twenty-four hours, it appeared to be exhausted.
One of these researchers, Dr. Melanie Balbach of Weill Cornell Medicine in New York, stated that it was demonstrated to be a simple contraceptive.
If eventually successful in humans, men will only swallow when necessary. They can make parenting decisions on a daily basis.
According to scientists, the pill can aid in parenting, but it does not protect against sexually transmitted diseases; for that, a condom is required.
Prof. Allan Pacey, Professor of Andrology at the University of Sheffield, stated, “There is a great need for an effective, viable oral contraceptive for men, but despite numerous attempts over the years, none have yet reached the market.”
It is planned to conduct additional tests, first on rabbits and then on humans.
“The method described here to eliminate an essential enzyme in sperm is an entirely novel concept. It’s very exciting that it can act and be reversed so quickly.”
Study Finds Male Contraceptive Pills to be Effective in Preventing Pregnancy.