A new study published today in the journal PLOS ONE details how a compound called EP055 binds to sperm proteins to significantly slow the overall mobility of the sperm without affecting hormones, making EP055 a potential "male pill" without side effects. "Simply put, the compound turns-off the sperm's ability to swim, significantly limiting fertilization capabilities," said lead investigator, PhD, retired professor of cell biology and physiology in the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine. "This makes EP055 an ideal candidate for non-hormonal male contraception." Currently, condoms and surgical vasectomy are the only safe forms of birth control currently available for men.
There are hormonal drugs in clinical trials that target the production of sperm, but these affect the natural hormones in men much like female contraceptives affect hormones in women. During…
