A safe, reversible, chemical form of male contraception is one step closer after researchers successfully utilised a cancer drug to sterilise male mice, who then fathered healthy offspring after the drug was ceased. Importantly, the drug had no serious side-effects, including no effect on testosterone production, sex drive, behaviour or the health of later offspring.

The discovery which was published yesterday in the journal Cell, will eventually provide men with greater ability to share responsibility for contraception, and the long searched for non-surgical option. Let’s face it - who wants people with sharp things interfering with their private parts?

Although this is a major milestone in the search for a male contraceptive pill, there is still a long way to go between mouse studies and a product being approved and available for sale in the US. The reproductive systems in mice and men are very similar, and whilst it is very likely, positive results in a mouse study do not guarantee that the compound will work in exactly the same way in human men. Firstly other animal studies will be required and eventually trials with human couples over several years. Ultimately, we are looking at a 10-15 year wait for the potential end-product to arrive on pharmacy shelves.

(Source: futurenow321)