Two New Male Contraceptive Pills Could Lead The Way Into Expanded Birth Control

Apart from vasectomies and condoms, there aren’t many options out there when it comes to male contraception. 

On the other hand, more of the burden in heterosexual relationships falls on women, with Interesting Engineering noting that a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) census from 2015 to 2017 showed 64.9% of women aged between 15 and 49 used contraception, ranging from oral pills to long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs).

Now, two experimental male contraceptive pills—known as DMAU and 11β-MNTDC—could potentially pave the way for new birth control options, as per a new study that will soon be presented at the Endocrine Society’s annual meeting. 

To put it simply, these drugs, made specifically for men, help suppress testosterone, thus reducing an individual’s sperm count. In the past, scientists have been hesitant to introduce this class of contraceptives, known as progestognenic androgens, to men, for fear of unpleasant side effects. 

However, this time, 75% of the 96 healthy men who participated in the study indicated they were willing to continue taking the pills, which could be a positive sign that an option with acceptable side effects may soon hit the shelves. 

“Development of an effective, reversible male contraceptive method will improve reproductive options for men and women, have a major impact on public health by decreasing unintended pregnancy, and allow men to have an increasingly active role in family planning,” explained lead researcher Tamar Jacobsohn.

“Men’s positive experiences in clinical trials and high ratings of acceptability for this male pill should serve to excite the public about male birth control being potentially widely available in the coming decades,” he added. 

[via Interesting Engineering and Endocrine Society / Newswise, cover image via Hamiza Bakirci | Dreamstime.com]