Jakarta, Indonesia Sentinel — In a major development toward male contraception, an experimental non-hormonal birth control pill for men has been deemed safe in its first human clinical trial. Although, the research is still in its early stages as researchers has not yet tested the drug’s effectiveness.
The pill, known as YCT-529, represents what scientists describe as a long-awaited counterpart to the female birth control pill. Developed by researchers in the United States, the drug is designed to temporarily block sperm production without affecting hormone levels or sexual desire, and its effects are fully reversible.
According to the Daily Mail, the pill works by blocking vitamin A receptors in the testes, a process essential to sperm production, but it leaves testosterone and sex drive unaffected.
Findings from the Phase 1 trial were published Tuesday (July 29) in the peer-reviewed journal Communications Medicine. The early-stage study focused exclusively on the drug’s safety profile and did not assess how well it prevents pregnancy. Although the pill’s contraceptive efficacy in humans remains unknown, experts consider the safety results a critical step forward.
Researchers examined whether YCT-529 caused any negative effects on the heart, hormone levels, or libido, and also monitored how the drug interacted with the body when taken over a prolonged period. So far, no concerning side effects have been reported.
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In earlier animal trials, YCT-529 demonstrated impressive results. In male mice, it was 99 percent effective in preventing pregnancy after four weeks of use. Similar trials in non human primates showed a marked drop in sperm count within two weeks of treatment. Importantly, both mice and primates regained full fertility after stopping the drug, with no adverse side effects observed.
The completion of the first human trial confirms that YCT-529 is safe for male use and is currently the only non-hormonal male birth control pill undergoing human testing. Scientists hope the pill could become publicly available within this decade, potentially revolutionizing the landscape of reproductive health and offering a long-sought alternative to condoms and vasectomy.
(Raidi/Agung)
