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NIH Researchers Identify Compounds for Non-Hormonal Male Contraceptives
In preclinical animal trials, NIH researchers at Cornell have identified compounds for a non-hormonal male contraceptive.
A preclinical study in Nature Communication identifies compounds that may help develop non-hormonal male contraceptives. The study — led by NIH researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine — used animal models to assess the efficacy of soluble adenylyl cyclase (sAC) inhibitors as male birth control in mice.
This study builds off of previous research that determined that mice lacking sAC were infertile. The article in Nature notes that sAC is critical for sperm quality, improving motility and maturation.
Researchers set out to determine if sAC inhibition can act as a contraceptive using TDI-11861, an sAC inhibitor. They concluded that a single dose made mice temporarily infertile.
According to the NIH press release, “TDI-11861 rendered mouse sperm cells immobile and prevented them from maturing. The compounds did not interfere with the animals’ sexual functioning. Although male mice mated with females, no pregnancies were observed. Sperm recovered from female mice remained incapacitated. The authors did not observe any side effects in the male or female mice. The compound wore off three hours later, and males recovered their fertility.”
The study acknowledges that many pregnancies are unintended. Data from the CDC suggests that approximately 45% of pregnancies in the United States are unintended, with rates impacting marginalized communities significantly more. The unintended pregnancy rate has been linked to a lack of sex education or contraceptive access.
Preventing unintended pregnancy is an increasingly critical tool for managing the physical, mental, and emotional health of individuals that may become pregnant. As individuals navigate a post-Roe world, which may mean limited access to reproductive care, access to safe and effective contraception is increasingly essential.
Nearly all available and approved contraceptives are intended for individuals with female reproductive anatomy. The only options for male contraceptives are condoms or vasectomies. While the vasectomy rate has risen after Roe v. Wade was overturned, there are potential complications, with only 85% of reversals being successful.
The treatment gap in contraceptives for those with male reproductive organs has driven researchers to invest time and money into male contraceptives. In addition to this research, L.R. Fox, CEO of NEXT Life Sciences, told LifeSciencesIntelligence that a nonhormonal, reversible hydrogel called Vasalgel is expected to be approved by the end of this year.
As the field of male contraceptives grows, providers must consider how to integrate education into their practices and how increasing access may contribute to better patient outcomes.
