The hunt for the male contraceptive is a long-standing business. At the moment, the options available are quite ancient or "radical": one can choose between condoms and a vasectomy. Fantastic, isn't it?
Now, a new drug developed by Weill Cornell Medicine promises to change this state of affairs. It is a male contraceptive in pill form, to be taken just before sexual intercourse and able to reduce fertility for 24 hours.
How does the new male contraceptive work?
Past attempts continue to prove ineffective, have too many side effects, take a long time to start or wear off, or a combination of these. The newly developed drug does none of these: Instead, it works by blocking a protein called soluble adenylyl cyclase (sAC), which is essential for sperm function. In tests carried out on mice, the drug inhibited sperm motility within 30-60 minutes and maintained its effect for at least 2,5 hours. After 24 hours, the mice had returned to their full fertility.
The research found no ill effects after giving the drug to mice for six consecutive weeks (a little, to be really picky). What's more, the pill is less invasive than any of the experimental male contraceptives—practically all existing ones require nuisance injections and weeks to reduce fertility.
The possibilities
As you can imagine, the discovery (published in the journal Nature Communications, I link it to you here) could change the affordability and flexibility of male contraceptives forever, reducing the pressure on women to handle the bulk of contraceptive responsibility.
On the "playful" side, at the same time, the new Weil Cornell male contraceptive can be used in a rather flexible way.
Anyone who wants can use it as a daily regimen, or just as a short-term solution in anticipation of a particularly "bubbly" night.
The only limit, it is worth saying, is the imagination!
