There’s a new birth control coming to the market, and there’s a lot to learn about it. The new pill, which works similarly to female birth control, passed initial safety steps and produced hormone responses consistent with effective birth control in 30 men, according to research presented by the Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute and the University of Washington at the Endocrine Society’s annual meeting.
The drug is truly in its infancy stage and has not yet been submitted for approval by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) but experts say that it could be well on its way to the market.
There have been some promising advances in male birth control recently. Researchers from LA BioMed and the University of Washington previously developed a separate male birth control pill that has also passed preliminary safety. There’s also some evidence that similar compounds could act as long-lasting male birth control when injected. A topical contraceptive gel, which men would apply daily to their shoulders and arms, is on the horizon as well.
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These birth control methods for men are about a decade away from being commercially available. Currently, the only choices are condoms, which often fail and are sometimes used incorrectly, and vasectomies, which are permanent. As a result, the heavy burden of birth control falls primarily on the shoulders of women — which makes any step toward male options a win.
In the new study, findings showed that 30 healthy men ranging in age from 18 to 50 took a pill formulated with a mix of testosterone and progestin (a synthetic version of the female hormone progesterone) for up to 30 days.
Unlike the 2016 male birth control trial that was infamously stopped early because so many men complained of the same side effects that women have endured for decades, none of the men experienced serious problems with the newer pill, and no one stopped taking the drug because of side effects.
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Some men did report minor symptoms such as exhaustion, migraines, acne and decreased libido — none of which will surprise women who take birth control pills. Two men experienced minor erectile dysfunction.
The study was introductory and it assessed only safety and hormone responses in men, rather than asking couples to test the pill as contraception. Initial blood hormone tests suggested that the pill could suppress both sperm and testosterone production enough to prevent pregnancy in the long run.
Contraception is for healthy, younger couples who are looking to have complete control over their family planning options. To that end, there will be several more rounds of testing and trials before the pill will be made public.
The wait will be worth it, both from a biological and emotional standpoint. Sexual health will hopefully improve and men will get a better understanding of what women endure from a reproduction perspective.
Jasmine Browley holds an MA in journalism from Columbia College Chicago, and has contributed to Ebony, Jet and MADE Magazine among others. So, clearly, she knows some stuff. Follow her digital journey @JasmineBrowley.
