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male contraceptive pill

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Scientists say they are a step closer in the difficult journey towards developing a male contraceptive pill, after successful studies in mice.

A contraceptive pill for women has been around for decades, but an equivalent for men has proved elusive.

A US study, published in the journal Cell, showed a drug could make mice temporarily infertile without hampering their sex drive.

Experts said the findings were “exciting”, but needed tests in people.

It has been argued that the lack of a male contraceptive pill has contributed to the number of unplanned pregnancies.

One of the challenges is developing a drug which can cross over from the blood into the testes.

Scientists say they are a step closer in the difficult journey towards developing a male contraceptive pill, after successful studies in mice

Scientists say they are a step closer in the difficult journey towards developing a male contraceptive pill, after successful studies in mice

US researchers at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Baylor College of Medicine were testing a drug called JQ1. It targets a protein which exists only in the testes and is critical for sperm production.

The testes of mice taking the drug began to shrink as they produced fewer sperm, which were also less mobile. Some were rendered infertile.

When the animals were no longer taking the drug they were able to have babies.

One of the researchers, Dr. James Bradner said: “This compound produces a rapid and reversible decrease in sperm count and motility with profound effects on fertility.

“These findings suggest that a reversible, oral male contraceptive may be possible.”

Researchers hope to be able to target the same protein in men, however, more tests will be needed to show whether the drug is both safe and effective in people.

Prof. Moira O’Bryan, the head of male infertility at Monash University in Australia, said: “This is an exciting report that could have major scientific and social impacts.”

She added: “The strong similarity between sperm production in the mouse and the human suggest that a variation of JQ1 may ultimately result in a human contraceptive.

“Although there is undoubtedly an urgent need for additional contraceptive options, the path between this paper and a new product is likely to be long.”

 

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A new male contraceptive pill could be developed after researchers in Edinburgh, UK, have identified a gene critical for the production of healthy sperm.

Experiments in mice found that the gene, Katnal1, was vital for the final stages of making sperm.

The authors of a study in PLos Genetics said a drug which interrupts Katnal1 could be a reversible contraceptive.

A fertility expert said there was “certainly a need” for such a drug.

Contraception in men is largely down to condoms or a vasectomy.

Experiments in mice found that gene Katnal1 was vital for the final stages of making sperm

Experiments in mice found that gene Katnal1 was vital for the final stages of making sperm

Researchers at the Centre for Reproductive Health at the University of Edinburgh were investigating the causes of male infertility.

They randomly altered the genetic code of mice to see which became infertile. They then traced the mutations which led to infertility, which led them to Katnal1.

It contains the blueprints for a protein which is important in cells which support the development of sperm. Without the protein, sperm do not fully form and the body disposes of them.

Scientists hope they will be able to perform a similar trick in humans to stop sperm developing, without causing lasting damage.

One of the researchers Dr. Lee Smith said: “If we can find a way to target this gene in the testes, we could potentially develop a non-hormonal contraceptive.

“The important thing is that the effects of such a drug would be reversible because Katnal1 only affects sperm cells in the later stages of development, so it would not hinder the early stages of sperm production and the overall ability to produce sperm.”

He said it would be “relatively difficult” to do as the protein lives inside cells, however, he said there was “potential” to find something else that protein worked with, which might be an easier target.

 

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