Lots of guys have been wanting more birth control options for them. However, they’ve always been limited to a few solutions. Enter the male birth control pill! Though it’s not in the market (yet) — as scientists are still in the testing phase — men can potentially take oral contraceptives to prevent unplanned pregnancy.

How did scientists test the male birth control pill?

Scientists from the National Institutes of Health recently tested the contraceptive on mice. They allowed the rodents to copulate while the male rodents were on the male birth control pill. When they retrieved the sperm from the female mice, the sperm cells remained “incapacitated.” As a result, the female mice didn’t become pregnant.

How does the contraceptive work?

The contraceptive works by disabling an enzyme called adenylyl cyclase (sAC) — which triggers the sperm cells to swim to the egg cell. According to the researchers, the male birth control pill started to work on the male mice within 30 minutes to an hour — and the semen that was ejaculated in the 3 consequent hours didn’t fertilize the egg cell. Once the drug wore off, the sperm cells’ ability to fertilize resumed to normal.

Did the scientists find any potential side effects?

The compound of the drug that’s responsible for disabling the sAC is called TDI-11861. So far, according to the researchers, “A variety of tests in mice didn’t identify any potential safety issues with TDI-11861.” In fact, they’re optimistic that the male birth control pill’s mechanism of action can potentially be adjusted for human consumption in the future. One of the scientists of the study, Dr. Lonny Levin, stated, “The team is already working on making sAC inhibitors better suited for use in humans,”

What can men do (to prevent pregnancy) for now?

Ask your partner if she’s willing to be on contraceptives.

For now, women are the ones with more birth control options — such as female hormonal contraceptive pills, IUD, diaphragm, spermicide, etc. — Therefore, one of the first solutions is to ask your partner if she’s willing to try being in one (or more) of those. However, there are pros and cons to female contraceptives. It’s then up to her to find the best solution for her. But if she’s not willing to be on any form of birth control, that’s her choice to make.

Condoms — always have one with you!

One of the cheapest ways that you can prevent pregnancy is to have a condom ready for you to use — it’s also one of the most common and readily-available solutions! Moreover, wearing a condom can prevent you from getting many types of sexually-transmitted diseases — such as gonorrhea, herpes, syphilis, HIV, and AIDS. Moreover, according to the National Health Service, condoms are 98% effective. As long as you get the right fit, and if the condom doesn’t slip off, or tear, condoms are one of the safest solutions.

Consider getting a vasectomy.

If you no longer have plans on starting or growing your family, you can consider a semi-permanent solution — getting a vasectomy (aka sterilization or “the snip”). It’s generally a safe and quick procedure where the tubes where the sperm leaves are cut. This is widely believed to be over 99% effective in preventing pregnancy and it won’t affect your sex drive or hormones. However, it does not prevent you from getting an STD. Furthermore, contrary to popular belief, vasectomy can be reversed in most men; vasectomy reversal is called a vasovasostomy.

Summary

Men need more contraceptive options. But, for now, there are barely any pregnancy prevention solutions for them. However, a new form of contraceptive is being tested (on mice, for now) and a male birth control pill can be used by men in the future. Until then, we have to stick to the ones that are available in the market and clinics!

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