Male contraceptive pill appears to be safe without side effects in early trials

A male contraceptive pill turned out to be sure In clinical trials at the start of the stage Without any negative side effects, the researchers said.

The new hormone -free pill, which aims to Reduce the number of sperm reversibly, was found safe in a test 16 male volunteers.

For decades, the choice of contraception Because men have limited themselves to condoms and vasectomy.

Weight gain, acne, mood changes and changes in libido were some of the side effects of previous attempts to create a male contraceptive pill.

However, women have several contraceptive options, including the pill, the implant and the intrauterine system (IUD) – many of which are also carried out with unattractive side effects.

But because this new male pill does not use hormones, it gives hope for fewer negative side effects compared to previous attempts, research at the start of the stage published in Communications medicine revealed.

Researchers, scientists of the drug development society, Yourcoice Therapeutics, said: “Since almost half of all pregnancies in the United States and in the world are involuntary, there is a critical need for additional contraceptive options for men and women.”

The new drug uses a chemical known as YCT-529, which works by blocking vitamin A metabolites to bind to receptors in testicles, preventing sperm from being produced.

Professor Alan Pacey, Andrologist at Manchester UniversityWho was not part of the study, the BBC Radio 4 told BBC 4 Today Program: “This target molecule A compound linked to vitamin A, retinoic acid, and we have long known that this compound is important in the way sperm is produced in testicles, which makes it the perfect target for a male contraceptive pill.

“He is able to inhibit this process without modifying sex hormones, which gives men a libido.”

Previous animal studies have shown that the use of the chemical can create reversible infertility without side effects.

During the recent test, 16 male volunteers aged 32 to 59 years took the medication twice in increasing doses – 10 mg, 30 mg, 90 mg and 180 mg – while some took the placebo for comparison.

Participants were monitored for 15 days to assess the levels of side effects and hormones.

The authors of the study concluded: “Administration of unique oral doses from 10 to 180 mg YCT-529, on an empty stomach and 30 mg, Fed, is well tolerated by healthy male subjects.

“The YCT-529 does not show an unwanted cardiac security profile, or a change in hematology, coagulation or serum chemistry parameters, levels of pro-inflammatory hormones or cytokines, sexual drive and mood, and shows good bioavailability (without clear food effect).”

Speaking on the Today Program, Dr. Pacey described the results as an “exciting step”, but stressed that the drug was not tested in a real setting to discover if it really leads to less babies.

He added: “It takes three months to produce sperm from start to finish and therefore if you start to take a pill, not only this one, you will have to have the sperm which is currently on the production chain to be moved from the system. So there will be a gap between the start of the pill and having its contraceptive effects.”

However, he explained that one of the biggest challenges will be the cost of placing the new pill on the market.