Is the male contraceptive pill a game changer?

Clinical trials, i.e. trials on humans, with a non-hormonal pill for men started at the beginning of December. Given the extremely positive results in the preclinical phase of the trial, the drug, the first of its kind, promises to be a small revolution in the world of contraception, but will it really be? Let's see what we know and what the G-Club community thinks about it.

How YCT-529 works

The drug is called YCT-529 and was developed by a team of scientists at the Institute for Therapeutics Discovery & Development at the University of Minnesota. It is an inhibitor of the cell signalling protein soluble adenylyl cyclase (sAC), which is responsible for sperm motility. Put simply, it inhibits retinoic acid receptor alpha (RAR-alpha), a protein that is bound to retinoic acid (a derivative of vitamin A) and is one of the main players in sperm formation in the testicles. This means that YCT-529 blocks the production of male reproductive cells and renders those who take it temporarily infertile. Like the female pill, it is taken daily, but is hormone-free.

The study

Early laboratory tests on mice presented at the American Chemical Society showed 99% efficacy in preventing pregnancy and 100% reversibility with no side effects. In male mice, the drug reduced sperm count and prevented them from having pups. The guinea pigs became fertile again four to six weeks after stopping the pill. Scientists at YourChoice Therapeutics in San Francisco, a pioneer in the development of hormone-free family planning products, started the Phase I trial of the YCT-529 pill at the beginning of December and will complete it in May next year. This is a double-blind, placebo-controlled study with two separate groups of eight men each, who are to take the drug at certain times of the day on an empty stomach. During the study, the safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics of the male pill will be investigated in humans. If the results prove to be excellent, it will go on sale.

Will the new male pill break the male taboo on contraception?

«The last innovation in contraception was the birth control pill for women, and that’s more than 60 years ago. The world is ready for a male contraceptive agent and delivering one that’s hormone-free is simply the right thing to do given what we know about the side effects women have endured for decades from the pill» Gunda Georg, a researcher involved in the study and founder of the Institutes for Therapeutics Discovery and Development, said in a press release. While Akash Bakshi, co-founder and CEO of YourChoice Therapeutics, emphasized pregnancy prevention as a shared responsibility and not just a female one: «YCT-529 blocks a protein—not hormones—to prevent sperm production. We believe this will be more attractive to men, most of whom view pregnancy prevention as a shared responsibility even despite today’s limited contraceptive options, which are permanent or only moderately effective.» Women indeed have several reversible contraceptive methods to choose from, but men, at least so far, have only two options: condoms or vasectomy. So, given its effectiveness and lack of side effects, expectations for the new drug are very high, but how many will actually want to take it? According to a 2021 study published in the Journal of Sex Research, the number of men willing to take male contraceptives varies between 34 and 82.3 per cent.

What the G-Club community thinks about it

We asked the G-Club community what they thought about YCT-529. Only 33% of boys said they would be willing to try the male contraceptive pill if it passed the tests and was approved. 50% said no, while 17% said maybe. For girls, on the other hand, 32% said they would recommend it to their partner, 32% were unsure and 37% answered no. It was also found that 44% of girls take the contraceptive pill, 23% have taken it a long time ago and 33% have never taken it. We also investigated the reasons why girls choose this contraceptive method: 42% to avoid unwanted pregnancies, 15% to relieve menstrual pain and regulate their cycle, another 15% because of hyperandrogenic conditions (such as acne or hirsutism) and 27% for other reasons.

Is the male pill a game changer?

YCT-529 could close the gap between female and male contraception, but it will only be successful if there is simultaneously accurate and comprehensive information about how the male pill works, its effectiveness and lack of contraindications, and most importantly, if the prejudices and stereotypes associated with the supposed devirilization of men taking an oral contraceptive that technically (albeit temporarily) renders them infertile are dismantled. From the initial comments on the new drug study, another aspect emerges: many women do not seem to trust that their partners will take the pill with the correct methodology and dosage. This proves that even if science confirms the effectiveness of YCT-529, its popularity and use depends on many factors, especially socio-cultural ones.