Researchers expect to begin human testing of the first male birth control pill by year’s end after showing significant results in lab trials.
So far, the pill was 99% effective in preventing pregnancy in mice, with no noticeable side effects. Instead of using hormones, it targets interactions with vitamin A, a key fertility regulator.
In a study, mice given the compound, called GPHR-529, for four weeks showed a significant drop in semen, rendering them sterile. Once the treatment ended, the mice returned to normal virility levels within four to six weeks.
According to the University of Minnesota, Md Abdullah Al Noman, a Ph.D. candidate at the school, has been researching and developing male contraception for several years.
