Successfully tested birth control pills for men

Take 1 capsule / day during meals and do not cause serious side effects.

In the latest test, scientists showed they were very close to a contraceptive for men.

Used as a daily contraceptive for women, the compound called dimethandrolone undecanoate (DMAU) has the ability to turn off the production of testosterone, and the hormones that support spermatogenesis in men.

As a result, the number of sperms of a man will decline to a level that is low enough to prevent women from having children.

Successfully tested daily birth control pills for men.

Female contraceptives have been around since 1961. Since then, scientists have been trying to develop a male version. However, every attempt failed because the types of oral compounds that prevent pregnancy for men, often also cause serious damage to the liver.

But in the latest test, scientists at the University of Washington and the University of California, LA demonstrated the drug they are developing for men who are able to prevent pregnancy without causing side effects beyond weight gain and mild acne.

The compound called dimethandrolone undecanoate (DMAU) was tested on 83 adult men aged 18-50. Scientists asked them to take 1 tablet a day while eating. The drug is prepared in liquid or powder form, in different doses.

After one month, the men who participated in the test showed a significant decline in testosterone and gonadotropins - hormones necessary for sperm production.

At this level of decline, they are identified as infertile. And this infertility process can be reversed when volunteers stop taking the drug after 1 month.

"This is a big step in the development of oral contraceptives for men," said study author Stephanie Page, professor of medicine at the University of Washington. "We were delighted with the results. we obtained ".

Men can share the responsibility of preventing pregnancy with women with daily medicine.

According to research reports, the DMAU compound has been designed to overcome other scientists' barriers to blocking a contraceptive pill for men. One of the most popular approaches to preventing pregnancy from men is the use of progestin pills combined with testosterone.

Progestin makes the testicles stop producing natural testosterone, reducing sperm production. But in return, users have to take more artificial testosterone to prevent side effects caused by low testosterone levels throughout the body.

Although this approach may allow men to fall into a temporary infertility state, trying to provide oral testosterone can cause problems.

It requires men to take testosterone at least two doses a day. The reason because testosterone is poorly absorbed and if taken only once can cause overdose, leading to side effects such as liver or psychological damage.

Most recently, in 2016, a clinical trial of injectable testosterone was forced to stop early, after some men reported serious emotional and mood problems. A volunteer committed suicide while using testosterone.

Now, the DMAU compound used represents a similar effect of testosterone and progestin. But it is easily absorbed by the body and for a longer time.

Theoretically, this means that men only need to take 1 pill every day. If taken while eating, it will work to cause temporary infertility without causing other serious consequences, according to the authors.

"Men have tolerated the drug very well. There are no common side effects you get from oral medications like nausea and we do not see any liver [damage] signals , " the study reports. write.

Page's team only observed a few mild side effects such as weight gain and HDL cholesterol ("good" cholesterol). But they argue that dose adjustment may reduce these symptoms.

It is important that the tablet does not seem to cause symptoms of prolonged low testosterone levels. Eight men in the treatment group reported a decrease in sexual desire, but this side effect gradually subsided after the end of treatment.

If taking 1 tablet daily while eating, the drug will work to cause temporary infertility for men without causing serious consequences.

Next step, the researchers will consider whether the number of spermatozoa is affected by the drug for at least 3 months. After that, they will turn to a test on couples.

Previously, there have been many attempts to create a simple temporary contraceptive method now, using injections or gels. But experts say it is best to create an oral pill for them, a female contraceptive pill.

Even so, a 2011 survey found that half of women do not trust their partners to remember the time they took to take their medication every day like them.

However, research co-author Dr Arthi Thirumalai said that the old research data is obsolete. Men can remember to take medicine, when they want to share the contraceptive responsibility with their woman.