Men get birth control pills! But they also have some unpleasant side effects
The contraceptive, created by researchers at the University of Minnesota, was 99% effective in preventing pregnancy.
The first male contraceptive pill, which has shown significant results in laboratory trials, could begin human testing as early as this year.
They conducted experiments on mice
The contraceptive, created by researchers from the University of Minnesota, was 99% effective in preventing pregnancy in mice, with no apparent side effects, writes Fortune . Instead of using hormones, the pill targets interactions with vitamin A, which is a key component of fertility.
Hormone pills have the potential to increase body weight and alter libido, and they can also lower “good” cholesterol levels, causing potential heart problems. The research team observed that mice receiving the compound, called GPHR-529 , showed a significant drop in sperm over four weeks, rendering them sterile.
When the treatments were stopped, the mice returned to normal levels of virility within four to six weeks. The research on this new contraceptive pill is led by Dr. Abdullah Al Noman , who has been working on male contraception for several years.
Namely, the University of Minnesota has been researching male contraceptive pills for some time. In 2018, two researchers reported that they had found a way to stop sperm movement by using an extract from a plant that African warriors and hunters once used as a poison.
Research on this method of contraception is still ongoing. The male contraceptive gel, which is rubbed into the shoulder daily, is currently undergoing clinical trials.
