
Scientists have taken a huge step forward in creating a male birth control pill that would trick the body into creating less testosterone.
Early trials have proved stunningly successful for a new pill that could totally revolutionize birth control in the future, and take the onus off women to prevent unwanted births from happening. A small but promising study was presented at the annual Endocrine Society Conference in Chicago earlier this month that showed positive results for a male contraceptive pill known as dimethandrolone, or DMAU.
The pill successfully reduced testosterone and other hormones involved in the production of sperm, a big step forward for coming up with a male birth control pill. It would provide a temporary alternative to a permanent solution, like a vasectomy.
The study involved 83 men who were 18 to 50 years old. Some were given a placebo, and others a different dosage of DMAU. The results showed that the pill was surprisingly effective at tricking the body into thinking that enough testosterone had already been produced and therefore no more was needed.
“DMAU is a major step forward in the development of a once-daily ‘male pill’,” Stephanie Page, M.D., PhD, professor of medicine at the University of Washington, said in a statement. “Many men say they would prefer a daily pill as a reversible contraceptive, rather than long-acting injections or topical gels, which are also in development.”
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