There has been a significant breakthrough in the development of a birth control pill for men.
The drug is called JQ1, a one-time hopeful anti-cancer treatment that controls the gene that dictates the production of sperm in the testicles, according to a paper appearing in the journal Cell by researchers out of the Baylor College of Medicine. In fact, JQ1 demonstrated an ability, over time, to cut sperm count by 89% and the other 11% were found to be less than high quality swimmers.
Unfortunately all this has happened only in mice, but scientists seem reasonably confident that the same effect will occur in human males.
One major aspect of JQ1 is that its sperm-reducing effects are totally reversible. Once off of JQ1 for a short period of time, the mice regained their ability to produce sperm.
Unlike previous attempts to create male birth control, JQ1 does not involve the use of testosterone, thereby eliminating the prospect of raising the risk of developing prostate cancer.
As good as this all sounds, JQ1 is many years away from hitting the market.
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