Experimental Male Contraceptive Pill Successfully Stops Sperm Swimming
Male contraceptives are coming! A new non-hormonal male contraceptive pill could become a possibility, according to scientists who have found a "sperm switch" of sorts that stops sperm from swimming.
When tested in mice, the pill managed to keep sperm stunned for at least a few hours - enough time to stop them from reaching the egg. For now, the pill isn't entering human trials anytime soon. The same will be tested on rabbits before moving on to human beings.
How the male contraceptive would work
If it all pans out as expected, men could take the pill one hour before having sex. Users of this pill would have to watch out for when it wears off for maximum protection, BBC reported.
Current contraceptives focus on women and are heavy on hormones that can cause side effects. This new approach eliminates the need for hormones, removing any potential of testosterone damage and side effects.
Also read:?Male Contraceptive Pill That's 99% Effective In Mice To Enter Human Trials This Year
The "sperm switch" is a cellular signalling protein called soluble adenylyl cyclase or sAC that is blocked by the experimental contraceptive pill.
The experimental drug is called TDI-11861 and was able to stop the movement of sperm before, during, and after intercourse. The effect was shown to last for three hours. In 24 hours, the effect had worn off completely.
Even then, the pill is just a way to prevent pregnancy. If it shows promise during human trials, people would still need to use condoms to prevent the risk of sexually transmitted infections.
Also read:?Explained: What Is A Male Contraceptive Pill And How Does It Work??
The study that assessed the outcome of this pill was funded by the US National Institutes of Health and published in the journal Nature Communications.
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