Male birth control pills could soon be a reality

There is headway and history soon to be made according to preliminary results from a small study testing the safety and effectiveness of a “male birth control pill.”  Described as a “promising step forward,” this male contraceptive would be the male version of the female birth control pill which was approved for contraceptive use in 1960, 58 years ago. 

The small, four-week trial of 100 men under age 50, of this experimental hormone-based birth control pill was found to be well-tolerated. But before men believe they can get rid of their condoms, there are still needed larger, long-term studies to address potential side effects before it is approved for use in the general public. 

For the study, researchers randomly divided the men into groups of 20 or less with some of the men given a sugar pill (placebo), while others were given a daily oral dose of DMAU.  Dimethandrolone undecanoate (DMAU) is the once-daily contraceptive prototype that was given to some of the men at one of three chosen doses – 100, 200 and 400 milligrams.  This prototype is always to be consumed with food.

Developed by the U. S. National Institutes of Health who also funded the study, DMAU combines activity of a hormone like testosterone and a progestin.  The year 2016 was the last time there was hope for a male birth control pill but it wasn’t approved as it was shown to damage the liver and it required two doses a day.  Also, past studies of male birth control pills had two steroids in them whereas DMAU has only one. 

Men receiving the highest dosage of 400 milligrams showed through blood tests that DMAU suppressed production of testosterone and two other hormones – LH and FSH – required for sperm production.  The study did not measure the men’s sperm count but the low levels of the hormones were consistent with what’s needed for effective male contraception.

The experimental drug did show a couple of potential problems that also plagues female birth control pills: it caused the men to gain weight and had a mild change in their cholesterol levels.  The men gained between 3 and 9 pounds and their HDL or “good” cholesterol levels fell slightly which could possibly over time increase heart disease risk. 

Men on DMAU had remarkably low testosterone levels but the once the men stopped taking the pills, their levels came back to normal.  Despite low testosterone levels, the men had no symptoms of any hot flashes or mood swings.

The real question to answer will be if men will actually use the contraceptive if it is approved and becomes available.  Studies have shown that between 60 to 80 percent of men surveyed say that if there was a male contraceptive approved for use, they would be interested in using it.