Key takeaways:
External condoms and vasectomies are currently the only male birth control tools available in the U.S.
Oral pills, such as YCT-529 and dimethandrolone undecanoate (DMAU), are being studied in clinical trials. Another pill, called TDI-11861, has positive data from mice that suggests it could be used as a non-hormonal, as-needed contraceptive.
Non-oral options are also being developed, such as Nestorone and testosterone (NES/T). NES/T is a gel that you apply to your skin — it’s currently in a phase 2 clinical trial. Injectable devices called ADAM and Plan A are also in the works.
The idea of male birth control has been floating around for decades. But as time has pushed forward, progress in research and development hasn’t followed suit. If you’re having vaginal sex and want to use contraception, an external condom or a vasectomy are still your two options to choose from.
By comparison, many contraceptive options are available for women. Birth control pills, intrauterine devices (IUDs), long-acting implants, and many others have all won FDA approval. These advances have impacted the lives of millions, but there’s still a lot of interest in finding a successful and well-tolerated male birth control option.
To address this demand, a number of medications are actively being researched in clinical studies. Here, we’ll summarize the latest updates for male birth control medications in development.
What it is: YCT-529 is a chemical that’s being developed as a non-hormonal male birth control pill. It’s thought to reduce sperm counts by attaching to a specific receptor (chemical binding site) in your body for retinoic acid (a form of vitamin A).
How it’s used: YCT-529 is being studied as a once-daily oral pill. But preliminary data also suggests that the medication could be administered as infrequently as every 2 weeks. This timing is still being evaluated.
Status: Early results from studies in mice were announced by the American Chemical Society in March 2022, and its first in-human phase 1 study wrapped up in June 2024. A phase 1/2 study is now underway, and it’s set to conclude by early 2026. This study will analyze ideal YCT-529 dosages.
Drugs for men: Many medications are beneficial for men’s health. Here’s an overview of what’s available and how to save.
A vasectomy is safe and effective for most people: This sterilization procedure can have complications and side effects, but they’re uncommon.
What affects sperm count? The most common causes of a low sperm count include certain health conditions, medications, and lifestyle factors.
Other considerations: YCT-529 is a preliminary, chemical name for this potential medication. If it continues to advance through clinical trials, it’ll be given a more traditional drug name.
November 1, 2024
YCT-529’s manufacturer announced that it completed the medication’s first in-human study this summer. A phase 1 clinical trial, they found that the pill was “safe and well tolerated in men.” Since this safety-focused study went well, another study is now in progress.
YCT-529 was initially developed by researchers at the University of Minnesota, but it’s now licensed to a U.S. company called YourChoice Therapeutics.
What it is: Dimethandrolone undecanoate (DMAU) is a medication that’s being studied as a male birth control pill. It’s a hormonal medication that suppresses certain male sex hormones to reduce sperm counts while you’re taking it.
How it’s used: DMAU is an oral pill that’s taken once daily. So far, studies have assessed its safety over a 1-month time period. But if approved, it’d likely be taken daily over time — similar to birth control pills for women.
Status: Researchers completed a phase 1 clinical trial for oral DMAU, and a phase 2 study appears to be stalled. In general, before the FDA considers approving any medication for use, it needs to go through phase 3 clinical trials.
Other considerations: An injectable version of DMAU is also being studied. A phase 1 clinical is set to run through December 2024.
May 2, 2022
DMAU is being studied as an injection that’s given under your skin or into your muscle. Researchers from academic institutions in California and Washington are studying DMAU’s safety in a phase 1 clinical trial. The study should wrap up by the end of 2024.
By comparison, there haven't been many updates recently about oral DMAU. The most recent update we have is from 2019.
What it is: Nestorone and testosterone (NES/T) is a combination male birth control medication. Nestorone is a hormonal medication that aims to reduce sperm counts to a very low level. Testosterone is used to help control Nesterone’s side effects, such as a low sex drive.
How it’s used: NES/T is a gel that’s applied topically to your shoulders and upper arms once daily.
Status: NES/T’s safety and effectiveness is being evaluated in a NIH-funded phase 2 clinical trial. This study should be fully wrapped up by late 2024. A phase 3 study would come next.
Other considerations: Nestorone is a brand-name version of segesterone acetate, a progestin medication that’s also found in several birth control medications for women.
November 1, 2024
Recent phase 2 clinical trial data suggests that NES/T effectively reduces sperm counts. But it may take a few weeks to kick in.
In the study, over 200 men applied NES/T gel every day (for a minimum of 3 weeks). Each dose contained segesterone acetate 8 mg and testosterone 74 mg. Sperm suppression was evaluated every month, with an effective contraceptive threshold defined as 1 million sperm (or fewer) per 1 mL of semen.
More than 85% of participants achieved this threshold after 3 to 4 months (15 weeks) of treatment. It worked faster for some participants, though. Many men were adequately suppressed within 2 months of treatment.
What it is: ADAM is a hydrogel implant — a specialized group of molecules — that’s being studied as a non-hormonal male birth control option. It’s a medical device, not a medication.
How it’s used: ADAM is a little different than the previous medications in this list. It’s injected (implanted) into the vas deferens, which is a tube that carries sperm out of your testes. Similar in style to an IUD used by women, it’s being developed as a possible long-term birth control option.
Status: ADAM’s safety is currently being studied in a small trial. This first human study began in May 2022, and it’s expected to be completed by February 2026. If all goes well with this trial, additional trials will be needed to research ADAM’s potential effectiveness.
Other considerations: This is a reversible form of birth control. When ADAM is first implanted, it forms a blockage in your vas deferens. But after a while, it turns into a liquid and it’s washed out of your system.
November 1, 2024
Contraline, the company developing ADAM, recently announced a partnership with a diagnostic service called the DNA Diagnostics Centre. This organization will supply study participants with an at-home test called the SpermCheck Vasectomy. The FDA-cleared test will allow Contraline and study participants to monitor ADAM’s effectiveness in real time.
What it is: Plan A is a medical device that’s being studied as a long-acting, non-hormonal male birth control. It forms a partial blockage in the vas deferens, but it also changes the makeup of your sperm so it can’t fertilize an egg. The technology used to be known as Reversible Inhibition of Sperm Under Guidance (RISUG).
How it’s used: The Plan A system consists of a hydrogel called Vasalgel along with a precise method for its administration and removal. The hydrogel is injected into the vas deferens (similar to ADAM, mentioned above). It’s a reversible form of birth control that can be flushed out of your system whenever you want.
Status: A phase 3 clinical trial in India found RISUG to be safe and effective. But it’s now reformulated and rebranded as Plan A, and additional clinical trials are expected to kick off by the end of 2024.
Other considerations: Some people consider Plan A to be an alternative, reversible option to a vasectomy.
April 1, 2023
NEXT Life Sciences, a California-based medical device company, shared a press release regarding the launch of their new project, Plan A. It’s a male birth control that’s centered around Vasalgel, a hydrogel they acquired from the Parsemus Foundation.
NEXT is optimistic that Plan A may be available in the U.S. by 2026.
What it is: TDI-11861 is a chemical that’s being studied as a non-hormonal male birth control pill. It works by temporarily interfering with an enzyme (protein) called soluble adenylyl cyclase. This in turn makes it harder for sperm to mature, swim around, and fertilize an egg.
How it’s used: TDI-11861 is being developed as an as-needed (“on-demand”) male birth control pill. It’s meant to be taken before sex to disrupt sperm for a short amount of time. According to studies in mice, its effects appear to start wearing off after 2 to 3 hours.
Status: So far, what we know about TDI-11861 comes from a mouse study published in Nature Communications. Clinical studies in humans are up next, but a specific timeline hasn’t been announced about when we can expect them to start or finish.
Other considerations: TDI-11861’s initial results are promising, but keep in mind that its current safety and effectiveness data is preliminary. We’ll need to see data in humans before making assumptions about how well it might work in men.
March 1, 2023
Researchers from the National Institutes of Health recently published data that shows TDI-11861 appears to be a safe and effective contraceptive in mice. This non-hormonal medication is designed to impair sperm’s ability to move around and take action inside a female reproductive system.
In the study, TDI-11861 started to kick in after about 30 minutes to 1 hour. Its effects started to wear off after 2.5 hours, and sperm was back to normal after 24 hours. There weren’t any pregnancies in the study, and no notable side effects were observed in any mice — male or female.
What it is: CDD-2807 is a non-hormonal chemical that’s in the early stages of development. It works by interfering with an enzyme called serine/threonine kinase 33 (STK33). This enzyme is thought to play a role in sperm motility.
How it’s used: Researchers are aiming to develop CDD-2807 into an oral male birth control pill. So far, though, CDD-2807 has only been given as an injection to mice.
Status: CDD-2807 has only been studied in mice so far. It still needs to go through several years of testing and development before potentially being approved for people. Additional animal studies appear to be on deck.
November 15, 2024
A small animal study suggests that CDD-2807 may be a viable, reversible male birth control. Mice that received CDD-2807 for up to 6 weeks had fewer litters and pups than those that didn't receive it. Fertility resumed within 3 weeks of stopping CDD-2807, and there weren’t any major side effects.
CDD-2807 is being developed by the Baylor College of Medicine and other collaborating organizations.
Many medications and substances have been studied in the past as well-intentioned male contraceptive tools. However, so far, none have won FDA approval.
Why is this? It varies by medication, but the most common reason is due to bothersome side effects. Even though many medications have proven to be effective in clinical studies, their side effects and risks have limited their use. This includes symptoms such as mood changes, weight gain, and acne.
Here are some examples of previous treatments that have been studied:
Medication | Why research stalled |
Lack of funding | |
Side effects, irreversible fertility concerns | |
Testosterone enanthate (TE) | Side effects, frequency of injections |
Side effects | |
Side effects | |
Side effects | |
Side effects | |
Irreversible fertility concerns |