Scientists Closer to Birth Control Pill for Men

[slimvictor]

Scientists may be one step closer to a birth control pill for men.

A drug dubbed JQ1 swiftly stunted sperm production in male mice, a new study found. And like the female birth control pill, its fertility-fighting effects on were completely reversible.

"We have only observed full recovery of fertility in treated males," the researchers from Baylor College of Medicine wrote in their study, published today in the journal Cell. "We envision that our discoveries can be completely translated to men, providing a novel and efficacious strategy for a male contraceptive."

JQ1 blocks a protein essential for sperm production in the testes. If the drug is proven to be safe and effective in humans, it could expand the prophylactic pool -- an exciting prospect at a time when over a third of U.S. pregnancies are unintended.

But some doctors say the idea of slashing sperm counts, even temporarily, can be scary for guys.

"Sperm-making is a pretty delicate thing, and people do seem to have a concept of that," Dr. Joseph Alukal, director of male reproductive health at New York University's Langone Medical Center, told ABCNews.com in 2011. "How long did it take for women to get comfortable with the reversibility of the birth control pill? I'm not sure."

Nevertheless, Alukal said he thinks some men would welcome the option of a birth control pill.

cont at
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Wellness/scientists-closer-birth-control-pill-men/story?id=17028071

 

[sekio]

Can't sperm cells be engineered from stem cells these days (or DNA from e.g. skin cells recombined with an egg)? Moreover go the words "sperm banking" mean nothing to guys these days?

Is it really so important that each and every couple have a child or children?

 

[thehauntedx]

I'm one of those "some men", right now we have three options, abstinence, condom or vasectomy. This will be a great step forward, i don't understand why there isn't a male pill yet considering the female pill has been out for 50 years :S

 

[panic_the_digital]

4th option: pulling out.

 

[Tenchi]

4th option: pulling out.

Which is about as reliable as a chocolate fireguard.

 

[slimvictor]

Hey, pulling out works really well.
Until that one time that it doesn't

 

[sekio]

You could always look into castration, I hear that's not very reversible though.

 

[thehauntedx]

You could always look into castration, I hear that's not very reversible though.

lol, castration/vasectomy sound pretty similar. I think many would agree a pill a day is better then a doctor cutting into your scrotum *shudder*.

Hey, pulling out works really well.
Until that one time that it doesn't

well said =P

 

[Newbierock]

I Dunno about this, i'm giving it a decade to let them iron out all the kinks, no doubt there'll be some crazy mistake rendering half the males impotent.

personally i'm happy getting the woman to take a morning after pill or wearing a johnny. seems to have worked pretty well so far.

 

[The Network]

lol, castration/vasectomy sound pretty similar. I think many would agree a pill a day is better then a doctor cutting into your scrotum *shudder*.

True, but after 'the pill' has been a woman thing for many many years, it seems a bit weird to be taking a birth control pill as a man. I assume...

 

[NeighborhoodThreat]

I have no problems taking pills daily. I think birth control for men is a great idea and I look forward to it being a reality (that is, a reality that I can get a prescription for and pick up at my local pharmacy...and a reality that is covered by my health insurance).

 

[Thanatos]

Would this drug be selective to sperm production or would it effect most of the male endocrine process that takes place in the gonads? I would like to keep my high test level and retain the androgenic effects of a non-treated male.

 

[MoosejawSanders]

4th option: pulling out.

Which is about as reliable as a chocolate fireguard.

The actual figures are 3% chance of pregnancy if condoms are used correctly and 6% chance of pregnancy if pulling out is done correctly.

 

[MoosejawSanders]

Would this drug be selective to sperm production or would it effect most of the male endocrine process that takes place in the gonads? I would like to keep my high test level and retain the androgenic effects of a non-treated male.

My thoughts exactly.

 

[freehugs]

Is it really so important that each and every couple have a child or children?

Maybe not important to the human race, but maybe for the couple's happiness.

Back on topic, I'm down for this. I wonder if it will cause mood swings and what not though.

 

[MrPorter]

Whatever happened to good old anal? Surely that's way more reliable than pulling out

 

[AlphaMethylPhenyl]

Most people find anal sex qualitatively different from vaginal sex, not as in they necessarily like vaginal sex more, but that each have their, shall I say, ups and downs.

What I want to know is if chemical contraception is less healthy for men or women.