Male Contraception (Progress?)

Condoms are available everywhere, without a prescription, prevents STDs as well as pregnancy; so there’s not been huge pressure for a prescription strength contraceptive pill for men.

For women, we generally focus on contraception from ages 15 to 45, men do make viable sperm for decades longer. Biologically the hormonal control of sperm production is linked to the male hormone testosterone.

Only small drops in the levels of testosterone hormone have not been successful at controlling male reproductive potential, but these same small drops in hormone can be associated with ED, fatigue, and loss of muscle mass.

These days there are shots, pills, and creams being studied for male contraception. But it’s mostly being studied in the Non-profit world. According to PubMed: NICHD has supported the development of reversible male contraceptive agents. Other organizations such as the World Health Organization and the Population Council are pursuing male contraceptive development, but industry involvement remains dormant.

So a half a century after the introduction of the female pill Italian researchers have announced they are getting close to a male contraceptive pill. Arthi Thirumalai, MBBS, from, University of Washington, Seattle and his coauthor Stephanie Page, MD, PhD, have issued statements saying that this new drug, dimethandrolone undecanoate (DMAU), can bind to both androgen and progesterone receptors, and reliably and so far safely can reversibly reduce sperm counts to very very low levels.