New male birth control pill halts sperm production without hormones: Study

A birth control pill designed for men that temporarily pauses the production of sperm

no hormones required, pass its first safety trial. The groundbreaking birth control drug is spurring optimism it could soon be ready to launch a new

era of contraception. It could be a game changer considering studies show the rate of unintended

pregnancies is nearly 50 percent nationwide. Contraception for women is offered in many

different ways, including implants, injections, devices, and drugs, while vasectomies are the only

reversible birth control option for men currently that has approval from federal regulators. But the

effectiveness of the procedures varies for each individual and the success rate diminishes over

time. Condoms are abundant, but recent findings show men are increasingly abandoning their use

A number of reversible male birth control options with promising results are only available with

hormones and carry a greater risk of side effects and are still undergoing trials. The new treatment

represents hope for a better alternative It comes in the form of a pill called YCT that is now part of a larger clinical trial Health professionals believe the pill may be ready for market in just a few years The study of the drug involved testing on male mice

Researchers say giving the mice a pill had a 99% success rate in preventing pregnancy

Similar findings were discovered in male primates within a couple of weeks

The first human trial involved 16 healthy men. The ultimate goal of that trial

wasn't to test how successful the drug is, but rather to find out how well it's tolerated

and processed by the body. Following multiple doses of the pill, the men showed no signs of

negative side effects. It's a landmark discovery considering hormonal contraceptives have previously

been linked to mood swings, loss of sex drive, weight gain, and acne. In our opinion, hormones

are outdated. It's just a technology from a different era. Yes, they are effective

but they come with too much baggage. And society, I think, is ready for something new

The pill is currently being tested in a larger clinical trial with men over the age of 50

who either have had vasectomies or decide not to be fathers. For more on this story, download the Shader News app or visit san.com

For Straight Arrow News, I'm Kaylee Carey