Male birth control pill may be ready soon
September 7, 2012
Histological Analysis of the Antispermatogenic Effects of JQ1. Histology of stage VII seminiferous tubules of testes of 6-week-old mice treated with (A) vehicle control or (B) JQ1 (50 mg/kg QD) from 3–6 weeks of age (403 magnification). Red arrows indicate intertubular Leydig cell islands. (Credit: Martin M. Matzuk et al./Cell)
Attention men: The day may be coming soon when you can take your own birth control pill with no side effects, according to a study done by a group of scientists that includes a Texas A&M University researcher.
Working on mice, the team found that a compound called JQ1 acts as an inhibitor to sperm production and also sperm mobility.
“Both of these are needed for fertility, but JQ1 prevents both,” says Qinglei Li, an assistant professor in Texas A&M’s College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, is part of a team of researchers led by Martin Matzuk at Baylor College of Medicine and James Bradner at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute who made the discovery..
“It stopped the sperm production very dramatically. More good news is that there appear to be no side effects whatsoever. Once the JQ1 was no longer given to the mice, they were back to their normal reproduction rates, and it did not affect mating behavior or the health of the offspring.”
Though the mice were given injections, the team believes that a pill could eventually be developed for the same results.
A male contraceptive pill has been talked about for decades, but so far none has been successfully created despite a strong demand.
While many men might be reluctant to take out the trash or ask for directions if they are lost, recent studies have shown that about 70 percent of men would be willing to take a birth control pill if it were available.
One drawback to many female contraceptives is that they sometimes interfere with hormones, especially estrogen. But Li says the team is confident that JQ1 does not affect testosterone levels in men, and appears to have no other side effects as well.
As with many discoveries, the JQ1 compound appears to have come about by accident.
It was originally used for anti-cancer treatments, but researchers found it was also an excellent compound in controlling fertility.
“This is an exciting step in male contraception,” Li adds.
“A compound with more specificity will be needed before clinical trials can be done for humans. It does not mean a male birth control just yet, but it is a great step forward in that direction.”
Comments (10)
by DachsieLady
Technology advances to better sterilize humans. And you can bet your sweet bippy that it won’t be long until it is forced upon the recipient, just as vaccines are more and more given to school children without consent. Those who run the world are nihilists. They are diriven to totally destroy the human race.
Years ago when I was in college and a male contraceptive was discussed, the consensus was that it would not mean much to women as women do not trust men and they would continue to take contraceptive pills no matter if their partner (or partners) took the male contraceptive. The situation is changed now and we are moving toward a brave new world when the government will tightly control who may have a child and the child will be conceived and genetically engineered in a test tube. DachsieAll heterosexual union will become sterile and the reason for marriage, procreation, family and community will be a thing of the past. Doubt it not.
by Spikosauropod
This will annihilate the species. If both men and women have checks on reproduction, the chances of a baby getting through will decrease by 10-20%. The anticipated peak at 10 billion people will actually peak at 9 billion, and after that, the world’s population will shrink to zero.
by Aezel
Don’t forget your tinfoil hat.
by DJSNOLA
This is really going to affect those groupies and such that try so hard to get pregnant from NBA, NFL, Rappers, Actors etc. They wont be able to do that and get that lucrative child support anymore.
by Kevin Haskell
If so, I think every male in the country should ‘also’ have a right to their $3000 worth of contraception. :)
by Editor
Kevin: I nominate you as the male equivalent of Sandra Fluke. :)
by omran al-kandari
no more protection , hello pills :D
by Khannea Suntzu
Great, now I won’t get pregnant that often.
by gaoptimize
Sour grapes on my part to this announcement that it didn’t come while I was in my 20′s.
by Gorden Russell
That’s what I say, gaoptimize.