A new male contraceptive pill has shown promise in clinical trials on laboratory mice, a new study from researchers at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Baylor College of Medicine shows.
The drug, called JQ1, works by disabling a specific protein that exists only in testes that reduces sperm count and motility. When given to mice, the drug decreased the production of sperm in the testes and while also making the sperm produced less mobile.
After the mice were taken off the drug, they returned to full sperm production.
"We have only observed full recovery of fertility in treated males," the study, found in the August 17 edition of the journal Cell, stated.
"We envision that our discoveries can be completely translated to men, providing a novel and efficacious strategy for a male contraceptive."
To date, most other male contraceptive trials have attempted to stop sperm production by manipulating the male hormone testosterone through the use of injections or implants.
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