Male Contraceptive Pill: Contraception has come a long way since the introduction of the birth control pill for women in the 1960s. Yet, despite advancements in contraceptive methods, options for men have remained relatively limited. Currently, men have two main options: condoms and vasectomy. While condoms are effective, they are not always reliable. Vasectomy, on the other hand, is a permanent method and may not be suitable for men who want to have children in the future.
Researchers have been working on a male contraceptive pill for decades. The idea is to develop a pill that can be taken daily, which would work by suppressing the production of sperm. The Male Contraceptive Pill would be an attractive option for men who want a reversible, non-invasive form of contraception.
New Development
Weill Cornell Medical college employees Jochen Buck and Lonny Levin have added a new competitor to the event. In a newly published study in Nature Communications, mice were found to become infertile within 30 minutes, as sperm motility was blocked, with no apparent changes to behaviour or sexual function. Most remarkably, the mice regained fertility within a day.
The main concerned substance of this development, Tdi-11861 is a member of the soluble adenylyl cyclase (SAC) inhibitor family, which is found in most cells in the body. SAC produces a messenger molecule named camp which activates the sperm, and lets them start swimming, and camp activity is affected by the level of bicarbonate ions present. When bicarbonate ions are abundant, the rate of camp production is increased, whereas a lack of these ions decreases the rate of production. Tdi-11861 prevents bicarbonate from binding to the sites on SAC. This ultimately causes the sperm’s swimming to cease.
Also Read: The endless possibilities of CRISPR-Cas
Although Tdi-11861 inhibits sac everywhere in the body, Dr Buck and Dr Levin have determined that inhibiting sac throughout the body is not a cause of worry. Certain male individuals possess a mutation which eliminates a functional SAC, leading to infertility and a slightly higher rate of kidney stones. Nevertheless, they are otherwise in good health. Therefore, while sac is an integral element in the sperm mobilisation process, the body has created several backup methods to generate camp.
It is yet to be determined if Dr Buck’s and Dr Levin’s discovery is the ultimate solution for a male contraceptive pill. Further animal trials need to be conducted before any human trials can commence. The two scientists are, however, currently exploring different SAC-inhibiting compounds to identify which one is the most effective.
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