Hormone-Free Male Birth Control Pill Passes First Human Safety Trial
In a major step forward for male contraception, a hormone-free birth control pill has successfully passed its first human safety trial. The pill, known as YCT-529, was tested in a Phase 1 clinical trial and found to be safe with no serious side effects reported.
The trial, conducted on 16 healthy men who had previously undergone vasectomies, showed that the drug was well-tolerated. The results, published in Communications Medicine, suggest an optimal dosage of around 180 mg. However, the trial did not test the pill’s effectiveness in reducing sperm count or preventing pregnancy. Further studies are underway to evaluate these aspects.
YCT-529 works by blocking a vitamin A metabolite from binding to its receptor in the testes, thereby stopping sperm production without affecting hormone levels. According to researchers, this approach offers a safer and more reversible alternative to current male contraceptive methods such as condoms and vasectomies.
Dr. Stephanie Page, an endocrinologist at the University of Washington School of Medicine who was not involved in the study, said the safety milestone is significant. “We really need more reversible contraceptive methods for men,” she told Scientific American.
Animal studies have shown that fertility returns within 4–6 weeks in mice and 10–15 weeks in non-human primates after stopping the drug.
Dr. Gunda Georg from the University of Minnesota, where the pill was developed, said a male pill would offer men reproductive autonomy and help couples share family planning responsibilities more equally.
The drug is now in Phase 2 trials, where participants will take YCT-529 for 28 to 90 days to assess its impact on sperm production and continued safety. If successful, the pill could become a game-changer in male contraception, although it may take several more years to reach the market.
Other male contraceptive methods currently in development include a hormonal gel called NES/T and ADAM, a hydrogel implant that functions like a reversible vasectomy.
