A new breakthrough in male contraception has been discovered by a team of researchers at Weill Cornell Medical College. Currently, men can only prevent unwanted pregnancies through the use of condoms or permanent sterilization. Hormonal birth control pills for men have been tested, but they have caused severe side effects and take several weeks to become effective. The new approach uses a non-hormonal inhibitor that targets the enzyme Adenylylcyclase (sAC), which controls the movement of sperm. The inhibitor, called TDI-11861, deactivates the enzyme selectively and temporarily, making the sperm immobile and unable to fertilize an egg for at least two and a half hours. The effect is reversible and has no observed side effects.
The researchers discovered that the inhibitor works by deactivating the Adenylylcyclase enzyme, which is responsible for the movement of sperm. The inhibitor, TDI-11861, selectively and temporarily deactivates the enzyme, making the sperm immobile and unable to fertilize an egg for at least two and a half hours. The effect is reversible and has no observed side effects. The researchers believe that this new approach could revolutionize family planning and create more gender equality in contraception.
The study was conducted on mice, and the researchers are currently preparing for further animal testing before moving on to clinical trials with humans. While the inhibitor is effective for several hours, the researchers note that human sperm can survive in the uterus for several days. Therefore, additional measures would need to be taken to prevent the sperm from reaching the cervix and fertilizing an egg. Despite this, the researchers are optimistic about the potential of this new approach to male contraception.
