Revolutionizing Contraception: The New Male Contraceptive Pill That Blocks Sperm Movement
A new oral contraceptive Pill that has proven to be 99% effective in both mice and humans has been discovered by researchers. The pill is designed to be taken by men about an hour before engaging in sexual activity, allowing them to focus on timing as it wears off.
For many years, women have relied on hormonal contraceptive drugs, while men have only had the option of using condoms for contraception. However, the new Male Contraceptive Pill does not involve any hormones, which researchers say is one of its advantages. They are investigating methods that do not remove testosterone or cause any side effects related to male hormones.
The new pill targets a cell-signaling protein called soluble adenyl cyclase (SAC), which is involved in the movement of sperm. Male test pills block the SAC, preventing the movement of sperm.
In a previous study funded by the US National Institutes of Health, a single dose of the drug called TDI-11861 was found to block sperm before, during, and after intercourse in mice. The effect lasted for about three hours, and after 24 hours, it appeared to have worn off completely.
Dr. Melanie Balbach from Weill Cornell Medicine in New York, one of the scientists involved in the study, said that the new contraceptive method was easy to use and, if it works in humans, men could take it only when necessary, allowing them to make daily decisions about their parenting.
However, it is important to note that the new pill does not protect against sexually transmitted diseases. For that reason, a condom would still be necessary for protection.
Professor Allan Pacey, a Professor of Andrology at the University of Sheffield, praised the new method, saying that it was a completely new idea to knock out a key enzyme in sperm. He added that the fact that it could act and be reversed quickly was very exciting.
Further tests are planned, with the pill first being tested on rabbits and then on humans. If successful, this new contraceptive method could revolutionize contraception for men.
