Birth control for men edges closer
August 17, 2012
Small-Molecule Inhibition of BRDT for Male Contraception (credit: Martin M. Matzuk et al./Cell)
Researchers have reported a new way to make male mice temporarily infertile, says Nature News,
The technique impairs sperm production by blocking a protein called BRDT. This protein was singled out as a potential therapeutic target five years ago because it only occurs in the testes, where it is required for the division of sperm cells.
If the approach proves safe in humans, it would be an improvement over hormone-based methods of male contraception, which are not completely effective and cause side effects such as mood swings, acne and a loss of libido.
Other techniques in earlier stages of development include testosterone pills and implants. Researchers are also attempting to make a compound that blocks retinoic acid — essential for sperm production — without causing the undesirable side effects seen in initial attempts at interfering with its action, which made men feel sick after consuming alcohol.
Comments (7)
by Bri
Oooouuccchhh!!!! Nothing wakes a guy up in the morning like a good kick to the groin. Actually there have been quite a few male fertility treatments. During WWII the navy would sometimes have guys about to go on shore leave stand in front of the communication dishes. They had noticed the effects in maintenance personel and in a totally unsanctioned way used it. My father working as a commercial artist, did some internal communication films for some drug companies that explored them. There even was a contraption that looked like a closed beach umbrela that you would…… Well you can figure that one out. Many issues have stopped there usage, not the least of which being, it’s a male dominated world. It’s kind of hard to believe now that women weren’t allowed to wear trousers, and forget about getting a job. Back when I was a kid it was hard for women to get an education. Things are changing and now there is a renewed interest.
by Alex
I am a firm advocate of “pulling out” this could slip into some agenda 21 stuff … no trust here … birth rates allover are falling . im not gonna substantiate this for all you here know how to search. a little advice to all men that are afraid of having babies … regulate your in-sex behaviour. to those that think there is a market for this: dont ! you are already hated for being stooges of good science to avoid acidental birth for men who are otherwise unwilling to change one move… just speakin for whoever will read .
by Bri
It’s cool, just chill and let it all hang out( pun intended). Lots of opinions on this topic. It would be nice to hear a womens voice on this issue.
by Bob
Why waste your time with pharmaceuticals? Just teach men how to use condoms properly. They’re quick, easy, leave no lasting side effects, and have a great success rate (if you teach men how to use them properly). Messing with fertility… well, it just seems to me like it has mild eugenics undertones.
by Peter Simmons
Excuse me. There already is male birth control, it’s called vasectormy, I had mine decades ago. Talk about reinventing the wheel. I suppose it keeps a few graduates in the income they were led to expect.
by GatorALLin
I always wondered why they did not have a male infertility pill or treatment beyond the condom. I think this product would be widely used and adopted quickly if no bad side effects and worked well. Wondering long term if cost was low how this could help improve population issues world wide? Some great stats on why the world’s population will max out at 10 billion in the future, so maybe that would slow population issues even faster with a product like this? http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/en/hans_rosling_on_global_population_growth.html
by Alex
My goodnes man “how this could help improve population issues world wide”
sorry but i must point out a small observation, you are using some Bill Gates jargon to say that the ultimate solution for Africa say is to destroy their comming generation and let them have sex … thats like striking at the “root of the problem” right there isnt it, ill laugh a bit if you dont mind http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HsAracLBCxI&feature=related
what else… yeah nothing look more deep into issues and so called solutions