A groundbreaking male birth control pill has passed its first human safety trial, offering hope for a reversible, hormone-free option that could transform contraception. The experimental drug, YCT-529, developed by YourChoice Therapeutics, works by temporarily shutting down sperm production without altering testosterone levels. Unlike traditional hormonal methods, this pill targets a protein called retinoic acid receptor alpha, crucial in sperm development, and early evidence suggests its effects are fully reversible.
Animal studies have been striking: in male mice, YCT-529 reduced sperm counts enough to prevent pregnancy with 99% effectiveness, while similar results were seen in primates. Once the drug was stopped, fertility returned within weeks, and no side effects were reported.
The first human trial involved 16 men aged 32–59, all of whom had undergone vasectomies as an extra safety measure since no nonhormonal male contraceptive had ever been tested before. Researchers focused on safety and how the drug processed in the body, not on pregnancy prevention. The results were promising: no changes in mood, libido, hormone levels, or sexual function were detected — a sharp contrast to the side effects often associated with hormonal contraception.
With unintended pregnancies accounting for nearly 50% of all U.S. cases, experts say the need for a male pill is long overdue. “Men want to share the burden of pregnancy prevention,” said Akash Bakshi, CEO of YourChoice. “But their only nonpermanent option is the condom, a 170-year-old technology.”
YCT-529 is now in a larger trial with over 50 participants taking the pill daily for up to 90 days to assess its impact on sperm production. If successful, researchers expect it could reach the market by the end of the decade, ushering in a new era of shared responsibility and reproductive autonomy for men.