Is There a Male Birth Control Pill?

Dr.Madhulika Sinha, 3 mins read

You have heard a lot about birth control pills that females use. But have you ever heard or read of any birth control pills that males can use? Sounds absurd, right? However, that will soon be true. The best part is that it is hormone-free and reversible (temporary), giving a safe alternative to current male birth control methods like condoms and vasectomies. 

Let’s know more about this breakthrough male birth control pill.

Overview   

When it comes to birth control, the market is already flooded with a lot of methods, with each having its own pros and cons. Most of them are for females, like pills, implants, injections, and devices. Only two options, condoms and vasectomies, are available for men. 

For decades, scientists have been working on a more effective and safe contraceptive option for men, and now they are finally ramping up. This is a nonhormonal birth control pill, named YCT-529, that works with a completely different mechanism. It works by selectively blocking sperm production without affecting the testosterone levels. Currently, the pill has undergone the first human trial, and the results are really awesome. It has been deemed safe for human use. 

However, studies and trials are still underway, and the road to FDA approval is long. But as per some scientists, this pill has the potential to become a breakthrough.  

How Does It Work? 

Sperms, the male reproductive cells, are produced in the testes. This process is called spermatogenesis. This process takes around 74 days to complete for humans. It involves several stages, transforming immature cells into mature and functional sperm cells.

In this process, vitamin A plays a crucial role. This vitamin binds with its receptors in the testes and initiates the development and differentiation of sperm cells. This is the step where YCT-529 actually works. 

This pill blocks vitamin A from binding to its receptors, hence affecting the sperm cells' production in the testes.   

First Human Trial

The first human trial of this medicine was done on a small batch of 16 men, aged 32 to 59 years. The main aim was not to check the efficacy. Instead, the focus was on checking its safety, tolerability, and bioavailability.

For that reason, all the chosen 16 men had already undergone a vasectomy, a permanent surgical procedure to stop sperm release from the penis. Choosing such men was part of an extra precaution to prevent the risk of permanent damage to participants’ fertility. 

The participants were divided into two batches. The men in the first batch were given either 10 mg of YCT-529, then 30 mg after two weeks or received a placebo (fake drug) each time. The people in the second batch were either given a 90 mg dose, then 180 mg after two weeks or received a placebo each time. This was done to ensure the accuracy of results and to determine the impact of different dosages.  

All the drugs were given after fasting. Then, four people from each batch were selected for the third 30 mg dose, which was given after a high-calorie, high-fat breakfast. This was done to check the food’s impact on the tolerability of the medicine.  

Result

In the preliminary study of the first human trial of YCT-529, scientists saw good and quick bioavailability. This means the drug didn’t break down rapidly in the body. So, if it gets approved in the near future, it might be needed once daily. 

Also, there were no adverse effects related to the drug. Even theoretically, there is a little chance of certain side effects, like changes in sexual function. However, saying clearly about the side effects, safety, and efficacy of YCT-529 will require more conclusive studies and trials.