A male contraceptive pill which stops the production of sperm could be available in five years' time, say researchers from King's College London, UK. They plan to to test a chemical which stops the vas deferens from contracting and passing sperm from the testes out of the penis.
For about ten years we have known that some drugs used for schizophrenia and hypertension stop the sperm from reaching the penis in this way. However, they could not be used as a male contraceptive because of their side-effects, which included drowsiness and dizziness.
Researchers have managed to isolate the chemical which stops the vas deferens from contracting and pumping sperm from the testicles out of the penis (ejaculating). The chemical, say the scientists, will be tested first on animals, and then on humans.
If all goes well we could have a male contraceptive pill by around 2012. The pill might be taken daily by men, or perhaps as a one-off, some hours before intercourse.
This drug works on a muscle, not hormones. Because of this, fertility should be restored a day or so after the man stops taking it - even if he had been taking it for several months, say the researchers.
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