In this lively episode of Show Me The Science, Professor Luke O’Neill gets into a topic that has been… well, a very long time coming: male contraception. While women have had the contraceptive pill since the 1960s, giving them control over their reproductive choices (and giving men, frankly, an easy ride), the search for a safe, reliable male birth control has been slow. Luke examines why – and whether science might finally be about to deliver.
At the heart of this week’s discussion is Adam, a pioneering non-hormonal male contraceptive hydrogel. It’s injected into the vas deferens (yes, there), and in early trials it stopped sperm production for up to two years without noticeable side effects. Think of it as blocking the road before the traffic even starts moving. Adam is the most advanced of the non-surgical male contraception options in development, and Luke explains how it stacks up against hormonal gels, male contraceptive injections, and pills that mess with sperm production or motility.
Luke also takes a trip down contraceptive memory lane, recalling the history of the contraceptive pill and the work of Carl Djerassi, its so-called “father.” (Luke even met him once.) The hormones in the original pill came from steroids derived from the yucca plant – so, in a sense, a humble desert shrub helped spark a social revolution. But the female pill also brought side effects, and it put the lion’s share of responsibility for contraception firmly on women’s shoulders.
From there, Luke dives into the science behind hormonal male contraception. He explains how progesterone can suppress sperm production in men, much as it stops egg release in women – but with the risk of affecting libido and muscle strength. Solutions like a transdermal gel combining nestorone and testosterone are showing promise, with one Phase 2 male contraceptive trial already a success. Then there are more unusual approaches: YCT529, which interferes with vitamin A’s role in sperm production (without wrecking your eyesight, hopefully); adjudin, which stops sperm from sticking; and EP055, which stops sperm tails from spinning – because no spin means no swim.
But science isn’t the only barrier. Sociologists point out that one reason for the slow rollout is trust – or lack of it. Put bluntly, some worry men might forget to take a daily pill. (Luke admits we can be a bit… feckless.) The FDA also hasn’t approved a male pill yet, in part due to low levels of testing and potential side effects. Long-lasting options like monthly patches or injectable gels could bypass the “Oops, I forgot” problem entirely.
Back to Adam: Luke’s cautiously optimistic. The early human trials are tiny, but the data so far is encouraging. He wants to see much bigger studies, peer-reviewed results, and expert scrutiny from reproductive scientists and hydrogel specialists before anyone calls it a game-changer. And, as always, there’s the matter of cost – will new male contraceptives be priced like condoms, or more like designer handbags?
From yucca plants to hydrogel injections, and from hormonal chemistry to the politics of gender and contraceptive responsibility, this episode takes a smart, wry, and sometimes cheeky look at the future of male birth control. If these innovations succeed, they could change the conversation – and the responsibility – for good.
Got a question or an idea for a future episode? Send it straight to Luke at laoneill@tcd.ie. He promises to read it, and he probably won’t make fun of you on air.
