Is the World Getting Closer to Male Contraception?
By: Cristian Ocampo
Edited by: Pedro Andrés Calvo
Contraception, or birth control, refers to methods to prevent pregnancy. There are many different types of contraception available, including hormonal methods like the pill and the patch, barrier methods like condoms and diaphragms, and long-acting reversible methods like intrauterine devices (IUDs) and implants. (1)
Today, vasectomy is a contraceptive method adopted by many men who want to control their reproductive health; However, recent scientific developments could change the history of contraceptive methods forever.
A Bet That Resulted in sAC Inhibition
Dr. Jochen Buck and Dr. Lonny Levin, pharmacology professors at Weill Cornell Medicine, did not initially intend to find a male contraceptive method. Dr. Levin challenged Dr. Buck to isolate (2) an essential cellular signaling protein known as soluble adenylyl cyclase (sAC), which had been difficult for biochemists to identify for a long time. After two years, Dr. Buck isolated the protein successfully, and as a result, they decided to merge their labs as they refocused their research on studying sAC. (3)
The team noticed that genetically altered mice lacking sAC were incapable of reproducing. In their lab, Dr. Melanie Balbach, a postdoctoral associate, found that mice treated with a substance that renders sAC inactive produced immobile sperm. The team was also reassured by another team’s report on fertile but healthy men who lacked the sAC gene. This information suggested that sAC inhibition might be a safe method of contraception. (4)
TDI-11861, an sAC inhibitor, paralyzes mice sperm for up to two and a half hours after a single dose. Its effects persist even after mating in the female reproductive tract, claims a recent study that was published in Nature Communications. After three hours, some sperm regain motility; within 24 hours, almost all sperm resume natural movement. (5)
Vasalgel, a Different Approach
In the meantime, a different approach akin to a synthetic vasectomy has been in development by the Parsemus Foundation. (6) The technology behind it is based on a polymer called styrene-alt-maleic acid (SMA), commonly referred to as Vasalgel, which is used as a hydrogel that is injected into the vas deferens, the tube that carries sperm from the testicles to the urethra. The hydrogel acts as a physical barrier, preventing sperm from reaching the ejaculate and thus rendering the man temporarily infertile. The procedure is performed under local anesthesia and takes about 15 minutes to complete. (7)
The treatment with Vasalgel is reversible and can be easily flushed out of the vas deferens with a simple injection of a solution of sodium bicarbonate, allowing the man to regain his fertility within a few weeks. Vasalgel’s long-lasting effect provides up to ten years of contraception, which is a significant improvement over existing male contraceptive methods, such as condoms and vasectomy. (8)
In conclusion, both of these methods have the potential to be game-changers in family planning, allowing men to share the responsibility of contraception and reducing unintended pregnancies and the need for abortion. If the clinical trials and drug developments are successful, it will represent that, perhaps in a couple of years, male contraception will be available for all men. Science never ceases to amaze the whole world.
References:
(1) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Contraception. Retrieved on March 3rd, 2023: https://www.cdc.gov/reproductivehealth/contraception/index.htm
(2) ScienceDirect. Isolation/Purification of Proteins. Retrieved on March 6th, 2023: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780123944474100185
(3) Weill Cornell Medicine, On-Demand Male Contraceptive Shows Promise in Preclinical Study. Retrieved on March 3rd, 2023: https://bit.ly/3TqxYht
(4) Weill Cornell Medicine, On-Demand Male Contraceptive Shows Promise in Preclinical Study. Retrieved on March 3rd, 2023: https://bit.ly/3lh2ca1
(5) Nature Communications, On-demand male contraception via acute inhibition of soluble adenylyl cyclase. Retrieved on March 6th, 2023: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-023-36119-6
(6) Paresmus Foundation. Retrieved on March 10, 2023: https://www.parsemus.org/
(7) BBC. Male contraceptive gel passes monkey test. Retrieved on March 10, 2023: https://www.bbc.com/news/health-38879224
(8) BBC. Male contraceptive gel passes monkey test. Retrieved on March 10, 2023: https://www.bbc.com/news/health-38879224
