Researchers unveil results of male contraception study, “that stops sperm production without affecting male libido”

There are a number of ways that couples can prevent unintended pregnancies but one of the most effective is contraception. However, until now there have been very few options for men compared to women even though the vast majority of men say that they have responsibility for birth control too and want to do their part.

Fortunately, there is progress being made in the field of male contraception. Researchers have developed promising contraceptives that safely stop sperm production without harming future fertility, some of which are already being tested on humans.

Big steps toward holy grail of male contraception

While still just tested on mice, scientists at Cornell University recently announced that after six years of research they have made a breakthrough with a nonhormonal male contraceptive. The results of their proof of principle study show that it is long-acting and 100% effective, yet safe and the effects can be reversed.

“We were really motivated to look for nonhormonal contraceptive targets in the testis, something that stops sperm production without affecting male libido and secondary sex characteristics,” Paula Cohen, professor of genetics in the College of Veterinary Medicine and director of the Cornell Reproductive Sciences Center and one of the senior authors of the study, told the Cornell Chronicle.

The method, using a small molecule inhibitor known as JQ1, targets sperm production during a stage of sperm production called prophase 1. Specifically, it disrupts meiosis killing the cells before they can enter the process of spermiogenesis, when the cells develop the heads with the genetic information and tails that allow them to swim.

However, it doesn’t harm the stem cells that a man will carry around with them their entire life that develop into sperm. “We didn’t want to impact the spermatogonial stem cells, because if you kill those, a man will never become fertile again,” explained Cohen.

Complete sperm function returns

The researchers found that after treatment was stopped, within six weeks the mice show signs that most of the healthy parameters of prophase 1 had returned as well as normal sperm production. Furthermore, those mice were able to father pups, who when mature were also able to produce healthy offspring.

“Our study shows that mostly we recover normal meiosis and complete sperm function, and more importantly, that the offspring are completely normal,” Cohen said. The group is looking at other ways to stop sperm production in the testis and disrupt the meiosis process earlier.

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