Hey Man, You on the Pill?
The male-dominated pre-sex question, “Are you on the pill?” might soon have a welcome flip. Scientists have found a novel way to block sperm from moving toward its end goal after ejaculation. By blocking two proteins located on the smooth muscle cells that trigger sperm transport, it’s possible to make the boys, well, not swim. The study has only been tested on mice but results look promising to develop a drug that will create short-term male infertility in humans. Earlier efforts to alter hormonal targets and the mechanisms involved in male fertility interfered with a man’s sexual mojo and caused long term irreversible effects on sperm viability. The new approach keeps sperm healthy and doesn’t affect sex drive; sperm stay intact but don’t receive chemical messages needed to motor forward and fertilize an egg. In the high-fiving it’s-about-time category, this is a big win for reproductive choice. Next up, getting men to take the pill.
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