Infertility for 2 hours: new birth control pills for men provide 100% protection

A new experimental drug is able to freeze the activity of spermatozoa, making a man completely infertile for a short time. Mouse experiments showed the effectiveness of an on-demand contraceptive strategy as opposed to currently available regimens that require continuous medication.

Scientists from the Weill Cornell Medical College at Cornell University (USA) were responsible for the development. They wanted to offer a new contraceptive option that would not place this burden on the woman. Study leader Melanie Balbach told in an interview with Agence France-Presse that developments in this area are slow due to higher requirements for side effects, since men have no risk of getting pregnant, and lack of interest in the industry pharmacology.

The new development offers an effective and safe solution that works on the principle of blocking adenylate cyclase. This is an enzyme that is responsible for the movement of sperm. The drug, which is a blocker of this enzyme, allows you to temporarily “turn off” the activity of spermatozoa.

Experiments on mice have shown that the enzyme is completely blocked 30-60 minutes after taking the drug. After that, protection against pregnancy is 100% in the first 2 hours, after another hour it decreases to 91%, and after 24 hours sperm activity is fully restored.

No side effects have been reported in mice, but more research is needed. Knownthat infertile men, in whom adenylate cyclase is permanently deactivated, have an increased risk of kidney stones. Scientists need to prove that this will not happen with the occasional use of enzyme blockers.

The researchers hope that as a result they will be able to create a non-hormonal drug that will give protection for 6-12 hours after the first application. Human trials are planned to begin within three years, with a successful scenario, the release of the drug is possible in eight years.

One of the advantages of this method, the creators call the ability to provide proof of contraception: it will be enough to take a pill in front of your partner.