Early Studies Show That Male Birth Control Pill Is Promising

A male birth control could be hitting the market in five years. Preliminary studies have shown that the pill can be promising. The name of the contraceptive is dimethandrolone undecanoate, or DMAU. Dr. Stephanie Page is an endocrinologist who works for UW School of Medicine.

Dr. Page and her colleagues studied 83 males who took DMAU. The pill works by decreasing testosterone. It also decreases the production of two hormones that are needed to produce sperm. The researchers found that the pill was effective. They also found that it does not hurt the liver or kidneys.

The subjects did experience some side effects. The pill decreased good cholesterol. It also caused weight gain. The study showed that the male birth control pill was about 96 percent effective for preventing pregnancy. During the second stage of the trial, many men developed mood swings and acne. One of the subjects developed severe depression.

Dr. Page has had many people ask her about when a male birth control pill would be available. Men have wanted contraceptive for a long time, but they have not had many options available. Condoms and vasectomies were men’s only options until the male birth control pill. Dr. Page hopes that men’s health will benefit from birth control the same way that women’s health has benefited from it.

Studies have shown that birth control pills can reduce the risk of uterine cancer in women. Dr. Page stated that she hopes that the results of this study will show people that birth control is a healthcare right for everyone. She stated that male birth control is a step in the right direction.

She believes that the birth control pills will help protect people’s sons and daughters. She says that they are doing this for society because they are all in this together.