The first human experiments with a male contraceptive pill without hormones began in the UK last week. Phase 1 of the process aims to ensure this Safety and effectiveness of the drug, which is unprecedented and should last until June next year.
This is the first male pregnancy contraceptive drug to reach the clinical stage is not hormone based. Currently there is only for the male population two contraceptive options: Condom and vasectomy both nonhormonal.
For women, most contraceptives has hormonesknown to cause various side effects such as those seen with oral versions nausea, headaches and chest pain, as well as mood swings and irregular bleeding.
The male pill, called YCT529was developed for approx two decades by Dr. Gunda Georg from the University of Minnesota. According to the pharmaceutical company YourChoice Therapeutics, manufacturer of the drug, there is still no forecast for market launch. The information comes from the GQ portal.
During the preclinical phase, when it was administered to rats and monkeys, the drug showed approximate results 99% effective and it was 100% reversiblein addition to not causing any side effects.
How it works?
Unlike the traditional female pill, which interferes with the hormones produced by the body, YCT529 releases inhibitors that block access to the male reproductive system Vitamin Aessential in Sperm production.
It is still uncertain how long and what dosage of the drug is necessary to achieve the desired effect, according to the journal. In the preclinical phase, tests suggested a reduction in sperm counts in animal guinea pigs two week treatment.
At this point, the researchers also reviewed the method did not cause infertility after completion of treatment. According to the newspaper O Globo, scientists hope to achieve the same success in humans as with animals.