A Male Birth Control Pill May Be Coming
Scientists have found that a sugar molecule, called NB-DNJ, causes fully reversible sterility in male mice. When the mice are given the drug, they cannot cause pregnancies. When they are taken off the drug, they regain their ability to produce healthy and fertile sperm. The drug blocks the production of certain molecules that are needed for the production of sperm in the testicles.
NB-DNJ is a very promising compound for researchers who are trying to produce a male birth control pill. First, it has already gone through many clinical tests and drug trials on humans-for other medical reasons. Second, the drug has been found to be well tolerated by the human body. Hopefully, a convenient male birth control pill is going to be available in the not too distant future.
For more information, see the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, USA. vol. 99, 17173 (2002).