Soon (finally) a contraceptive pill for men?
When it comes to contraception, men currently have no choice but to use condoms or have a vasectomy, often placing the burden of contraception on women. But a non-hormonal male pill currently being tested could change that.
For men, recognized contraceptive methods are limited to condoms or vasectomies. “Scientists have been researching alternative techniques for decades, but the only ones that have reached the most advanced clinical stages are all hormonal. And they come with a range of side effects,” says the British website IFLScience . “This makes hormone-free options much more attractive.”
This is to say that the data concerning a non-hormonal male pill published on July 22 in the journal Communications Medicine were expected. Developed by YourChoice Therapeutics, the YCT-529 pill, which will have to be taken daily if it sees the light of day, prevents a vitamin A derivative from binding to its receptor, which blocks sperm production. “In theory, with a non-hormonal contraceptive, there is less risk of adverse effects on sexual function, libido, and mood,” recalls Scientific American .
And that's indeed what Nadja Mannowetz and her colleagues at YourChoice Therapeutics found in 16 men aged 32 to 59 who had already undergone a vasectomy. The goal wasn't yet to evaluate the contraceptive action of this drug, but to ensure its safety. "Even at the highest dose [180 milligrams], the drug had no concerning effects on heart rate, testosterone levels, inflammatory biomarkers, fertility-related hormones, sexual desire, or mood," IFLScience explains. It adds that preclinical studies on animals showed that the contraceptive effects of the YCT-529 pill were reversible within a few weeks, meaning that the animals regained their fertility.
It now remains to be seen whether the YCT-529 pill actually inhibits spermatogenesis in men.
Courrier International
