Now the chemical snip! Male pill works like a vasectomy - but will girls trust men to take it?

  • The temporary 'vasectomy' stops sperm in its tracks, avoiding surgery
  • Previous attempts to develop a male pill have sought either to alter a man’s hormones or to make his sperm ineffective
  • But the new technique simply stops sperm leaving the body during sex
  • Australian scientists say it will reduce men's concerns about long-term virility and libido that have been associated with other approaches

By Ben Spencer

PUBLISHED: 15:02 EST, 2 December 2013 | UPDATED: 20:43 EST, 2 December 2013


A scientific breakthrough could finally make a male contraceptive pill reality, researchers said last night.

Previous attempts to develop a pill have tried either to alter a man’s hormones or to make his sperm ineffective.

The new technique works like a temporary vasectomy, stopping sperm leaving the body during sex – which scientists say will reassure men concerned that other approaches could affect their long-term virility and libido.

Male pill? A temporary vasectomy, which stops sperm in its tracks without the need for surgery, is finally on the cards after years of research

Male pill? A temporary vasectomy, which stops sperm in its tracks without the need for surgery, is finally on the cards after years of research

It is also likely to appeal to women uneasy about the female pill’s potential to raise the risk of heart attacks, strokes and blood clots.

 

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But some women may not welcome the news. In 2011 a survey by Anglia Ruskin University found that half of women would not rely on a male pill as contraception – because they did not trust their partners to remember to take it. Dr Sabatino Ventura, whose team at the Monash University in Australia published their findings last night, said the technique works by blocking two proteins involved in the ejaculation process.

Pugh on alternative contraception

Using medication to target the mechanism by which sperm leaves the body, rather than trying to alter a man’s hormones or kill his sperm, meant the potential side-effects would be vastly reduced, he said.

Significantly, the technique would not affect a man’s sex drive, and fertility could be switched back on simply by not taking the pill. Dr Ventura said: ‘Most of the previous strategies to make a male contraceptive have either been hormonal strategies, which would produce a lot of sexual side-effects or effects on masculinity, or they would make sperm dysfunctional, which might produce long-term effects on offspring. Our strategy avoids all those problems.’

Taken daily, a male pill would let couples share the task of family planning. Although there are a range of contraception options available to women, for men currently there are only condoms or a permanent surgical vasectomy.

The new technique, detailed in a paper published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, has been shown to work in mice.

The male mice were 100 per cent infertile after two proteins were deleted from their bodies. Crucially, the sperm retained in their body was undamaged and was later used via IVF to produce healthy baby mice

WOMEN STILL LIKE A GENTLEMAN BUT MEN ARE LESS KEEN ON CHIVALRY

Women still appreciate chivalry from men, according to a study.

More than four out of five like it when a man holds a door open, and three quarters like to be offered a seat, a survey found. 

Nearly two thirds like men to pull out their chair at a meal.

Men were less keen, however. More than a third said they were unlikely to help a woman carry heavy bags or a pushchair up stairs. And 21 per cent said they would be too embarrassed to give up a seat, with some fearing being seen as patronising. 

Only 7 per cent of women said they disliked such behaviour. 

Reviewing the research, psychologist Donna Dawson said: ‘There seems to be a “disconnect” between what women appreciate . . . and how men think women want to be treated.’

The survey of 5,000 people was carried out for insurer AXA.

Stagnant: In the past 50 years there have been few changes in male contraception compared with the range of options available to women

Stagnant: In the past 50 years there have been few changes in male contraception compared with the range of options available to women

In humans the same process would work by using medication to disrupt the same two proteins, blocking a message from the brain which moves sperm into the penis. The man would still ejaculate but there would be no sperm.

Dr Allan Pacey, fertility expert at Sheffield University, said the study showed great promise but added: ‘There is a long way to go. We need to do a few studies in humans to be sure this works in the way it has in mice and there are no side-effects.’


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Great news, everybody has the right to protect themselves from unwanted pregnancy. However keep in mind there's still a place for condoms, which help protect you from more than pregnancy!

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If women want sex and do not want children they are the one's to take the necessary precautions and God knows there is enough of the them including a morning after pill and ultimately abortion on demand. But No. I want to be equal to men but its your responsibility.

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Can men trust girls to take theirs?

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if it works just like a vasectomy only the few fools who had that operation will use it; try reading the side effects of a vasectomy; if you have any interest in sexual activity they are not good

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Key word: "foolishly" If a man does absolutely nothing to avoid a pregnancy, why should he expect a woman to do otherwise? Mourning the loss of 15% of one's income is almost laughable when you contrast it with the immense emotional and physical commitment (not to mention, expense) involved in raising a child alone. There clearly are duplicitous women out there, but on a grand scale the consequences are not even close to balanced between the sexes.

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Women fear the development of a male contraceptive because it takes away women's power over reproduction (the ultimate female trump card).

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correct

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Spencer, I dont know where to start with such idiocy. Your comment makes no sense and YOU clearly are just a troll. Men complain about being trapped but wont wear condoms. What has piercing a condom got to do with anything? How many men pierce condoms Vs how many men moan about unwanted pregnancy but refuse to take any responibility preferring to put blame on women. Point of fact, the kind of man who puts holes in condoms is the kind of man who says he is 'on the pill' when he isn't, using your, er...logic then, men still have no control over their fertility. Also I note that you have chosen not to mention abstenence which again is way a man can have complete control over his own fertility. In an ideal scenario both condoms and a female contraceptive should be used as condoms prevent against STIs as well as unwanted pregnancy. If the male pill goes ahead, I fear that there will be a huge rise in STIs.

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BristolExpat-The best way to start with a whacko is NOT to start. It's like dealing with the "baggers" over here!

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you fear losing POWER OVER MEN, THAT'S ALL!!!!!!!! you fembot you... you will lose sexual power too, which loads of women are that's why 70% of men don't want to even have sex with women in japan, type in "grass eaters of japan" some of the highest paid w}{ores are japans men now in the host bars, i.e. sex from them only if women pay !!!! hahaha thank you feminism, your world is now at an end!!!!!!

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I think you will have a bigger problem of men overdosing on it than not taking it.

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in this patriarchal driven world, please don't for one moment kid yourself and think for one minute men will take responsibility! They would rather spend money on another beer than a packet of tabs - medixx, Cape town, 03/12/2013 03:07 Which they could do much more of, if they can avoid 18 years of child support payments. Clearly as a hate spreading feminist, you have commented on the wrong article, as contraception is not something you are likely to have to worry about all that often.....

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in this patriarchal driven world, please don't for one moment kid yourself and think for one minute men will take responsibility! They would rather spend money on another beer than a packet of tabs

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look this up "Dr coutilho the feminist and the male contraceptive"

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Women use children as a means of extracting money from men. You can bet if there is a proven safe contraceptive developed for men, men will take responsibility to protect themselves from scheming women.

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