Author: Michelle Mao Take a minute and think of all available male contraceptive methods out there. Could you think of anything besides a condom? In actuality, the only other established methods of birth control for men include abstinence, outercourse (sexual activity that excludes vaginal intercourse), vasectomy (male sterilization surgery), and withdrawal (pulling out before ejaculation). Compared to the numerous birth control options that women have (female condoms, diaphragms, birth control pills, and patches to name a few), men are severely limited in their choices. But fear not, men, for recent discoveries in the field of male contraceptive research hold promising news of a male birth control pill. The primary struggle in developing a drug for male birth control is controlling its side effects. Although testosterone treatment in men is a viable approach that decreases sperm production, it is difficult to target changes in hormone levels to the testis specifically, leading to unwanted side effects. Most importantly, the implants or frequent injections crucial for testosterone therapy are rather inconvenient and uncomfortable for the target audience, according to surveys. Instead of altering hormone levels, John C. Herr, director of University of Virginia’s Center for Research in Contraceptive and Reproductive Health, and his team have discovered a specific enzyme in sperm cells that they can tweak instead. Spermatid cells, a stage in sperm cell development, contain a unique enzyme, named TSSK2. Researchers speculate that if TSSK2 can be inhibited, sperm’s ability to swim all the way to an egg in the fallopian tubes would be significantly reduced. Why is this such a breakthrough discovery? According to Jagathpala Shetty, a senior scientist, “In our model, both the enzyme and the substrate [the protein on which TSSK2 acts] are highly testis-specific.” This eliminates possibilities of side effects outside of the male gonads, unlike female birth control pills. For women, the pill releases hormones that affect the entire body and creates a plethora of side effects such as weight gain, mood changes, decreased libido, and intermenstrual spotting. However, another factor to consider is the reversibility of the method. The point of birth control is to be able to decide when fertility is desired. According to the research, it would take a whole sperm production cycle, approximately 72 days, for men to become fertile again. So, why take medication when you can just slip on a condom whenever you want to have sex? Statistically proven from raw data, one out of six couples who only utilize condoms end up with a pregnancy. Clearly, condoms are not 100% fool-proof, and it is common to pair the use of condoms with female birth control pills to minimize chances of pregnancy. The more options available for men, the less burden women have concerning the likeliness of pregnancy. And more options mean men have more control over their own fertility and sex life. |
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