In news that’s bound to come as music to many women’s ears, a male birth control pill has taken a huge step towards becoming a reality.
Researchers from the Los Angeles Biomed Research Institute have revealed that their male birth control pill has passed safety and tolerability tests in healthy men.
Based on the findings, the researchers believe that the pill could be widely available ‘in about 10 years.’
The pill, called '11-beta-MNTDC’ is a modified testosterone that has the combined actions of a male hormone and a progesterone.
Dr Christina Wang, co-senior author of the study, said: “Our results suggest that this pill, which combines two hormonal activities in one, will decrease sperm production while preserving libido.”
In the study, 40 healthy men took either the drug or a placebo once daily with food for 28 days.
Results revealed that men taking the drug saw average circulating testosterone levels drop, but without any severe side effects.
According to Dr Stephanie Page, co-senior author of the study, the lack of side effects is due to the fact that the drug mimics testosterone through the rest of the body. However, the drug isn’t enough in the testes to support sperm production.
Best of all, these effects are reversible after stopping treatment – meaning men could take it temporarily.
As it stands, the drug would take at least 60 to 90 days to affect sperm production, meaning the 28 days in the study was too short to observe optimal sperm suppression.
However, the researchers are now planning longer studies, and if these are effective, will test the drug in sexually active couples.
Dr Wang added: “Safe, reversible hormonal male contraception should be available in about 10 years.”
While you might think that most men would be adverse to taking a male birth control pill, a recent YouGov study suggested that this might not be the case.
The survey revealed that one in three men would be willing to take a male pill – exactly the same percentage of women who currently use hormonal contraception.
However, a quarter said they would ‘definitely not’ be willing to take a male pill.
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