Scientists tested the male contraceptive pill on mice, and it made them temporarily infertile.
By Kait Smith — Written on Aug 22, 2012
Good news for baby-fearing couples (and single people!) everywhere: Science is another step closer to finally developing a male contraceptive pill.
It seems we've been hearing about the possibility of this happening for quite some time; we even told you about a possible contraceptive shot to the penis a few months back. But this new pill — which, let's be honest, is a lot friendlier than a needle — was recently proven effective on mice, according to a new study. It made the animals temporarily infertile without hampering their sex drive.
Of course, a successful trial with mice doesn't mean the pill is ready for distribution at your local pharmacy; human testing is needed first. But, if the pill does work for men, it will produce a rapid and reversible decrease in sperm count and motility. The good news is that mice and men apparently produce sperm in similar fashions, so it's likely that human trials will produce positive results that bring us even closer to the potential of a male contraceptive pill.
There are some questions that will need to be answered if this pill arrives on the market. Mainly, how effective will it be on its own as compared to female alternatives?
No matter what, this development is pretty exciting, especially for those of us who aren't yet ready to start a family but still like to get busy between the sheets on the regular.
Would you encourage your guy to try the male contraceptive pill if it hits the market?
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