So we understand why theInternettotallyfreaked outthis week aboutthe possibilityof a new male birth control pill.
But, sadly, the study everyones excited about is just barely the beginning.
And a new pill isnt even close to being available.
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At the end of the 28 days, 83 of the 100 participants finished the study.
Heres the thing: The researchers didnt look at how all this affected the participants sperm.
So we cant make any claims about how this would actually work as a birth control pill for dudes.
Lets back up a bit to explain how testosterone and sperm are related.
The testicles do two things: Theymake spermand they make testosterone, he says.
In fact, testosterone is necessary for the production of sperm.
But testicular function and sperm production are regulated by thehypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal(HPG) axis.
Essentially, the brains hypothalamus produces gonadotropin-releasing hormone, which causes the pituitary gland to produce FSH and LH.
Those then signal the testicles to produce testosterone.
So why dont we just use testosterone as a male contraceptive?
Well, shutting off the testosterone valve has, historically, been pretty disastrous.
Low testosterone is associated with symptoms such as decreased libido, erectile dysfunction, and depression, he says.
If testosterone is suppressed enough, it wont be signaling the testicles to produce sperm.
Another unexpected challenge: making this a daily pill.
So the preferred method of giving people testosterone has become injections or topical gels.
Several of the participants reported weight gain, acne, and a decreased sex drive.
And most of those effects were significantly more common among those taking DMAU than those getting the placebo.
However, there wasnt a specific dose at which the side effects started showing up, Dr.
The libido effects will likely be the most importantand the trickiestones to figure out, says Dr.
The decreased libido is especially concerning, Dr. Gittens says.
Its something you really have to pay attention to in future studies, he notes.
And changes in body composition might take between six and 12 months.
The next step for Dr.
There isntanythinglike that available for men right now.
Unfortunately, all of these are years away from being available.
So, yes, the burden of birth control continues to fall mainly on women.
But that doesn’t mean men are trying to stay out of it.
“Were excited about trying to provide men those choices.”
