Birth Control: New Pill For Men Almost Available, Men Will Soon Share Responsibility With Women

By Hans Ngala

Men could finally have a birth control pill as well, removing the burden of contraceptive pills from being the sole responsibility of women. A pill known as the YCT-529, has successfully completed its first human safety trial. Developed by U.S.-based pharmaceutical company, YourChoice Therapeutics, the pill offers hope for a long-awaited expansion of contraceptive options for men.
Unlike female birth control, which includes an array of pills, implants, injections, and intrauterine devices, male contraception has remained limited to condoms and vasectomies (operations to stop sperm flow). YCT-529 introduces a revolutionary approach by targeting a vitamin A metabolite essential to sperm production—without using hormones.
The early-stage clinical trial results were published this week in ‘Communications Medicine’ journal and mark a significant milestone.
The study was designed strictly to test the drug’s safety and how it is absorbed and metabolized in the body—not its effectiveness in suppressing sperm. Sixteen healthy men, aged 32 to 59, all of whom had previously undergone vasectomies, participated in the trial. This precaution ensured that the experimental drug would pose no risk to long-term fertility during this uncharted phase of testing.
Participants were split into two cohorts. One group received lower doses—10 mg followed by 30 mg two weeks later—while the second group was administered higher doses of 90 mg and 180 mg in the same interval. Each dose was taken while fasting. To assess the impact of food on drug absorption, four individuals from each cohort returned for a final 30-mg dose following a high-fat, high-calorie meal.
Researchers found that YCT-529 showed strong bioavailability across all dosages, meaning the drug was effectively absorbed and not rapidly broken down in the body. On average, the concentration of the drug in the bloodstream was reduced by half within two to three days, indicating it could potentially be used as a once-daily pill.
“The results are promising,” said Nadja Mannowetz, co-founder and chief science officer of YourChoice Therapeutics, who oversaw the trial. She explained that the higher dosage of 180 mg might ultimately become the standard if future trials confirm its effectiveness and safety.
While the pill’s ability to prevent sperm production in humans hasn’t yet been confirmed, animal studies offer encouraging data. In mice, YCT-529 caused reversible infertility within four weeks and was 99% effective at preventing pregnancy when treated males mated with females. Similar results were observed in nonhuman primates, with sperm counts dropping significantly within two weeks of treatment.
The development of a safe and effective male contraceptive pill represents a major shift in reproductive responsibility and could reshape family planning globally. It also signals a step toward gender equity in contraceptive choices, relieving some of the burden currently borne disproportionately by women.
A larger human trial is now underway to evaluate the drug’s efficacy in reducing sperm count. If all goes well, experts are hopeful that the pill could receive approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and reach the market by the end of the decade ie around the year 2030.