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Nearly 75 percent of women report believing both partners should be equally responsible for pregnancy prevention. This shared responsibility, however, is often more of a dream than a reality, as most birth control options on the market are targeted at women. In fact, research on male birth control is so far behind that there are only two FDA-approved male birth controls on the market: condoms and vasectomies.
But a recent clinical trial might just make male birth control more accessible—and virtually free of side effects. A 2025 paper detailing the trial was published in the journal Communications Medicine.
The study examined the tolerability and bioavailability (levels of buildup in the body) of a non-hormonal male contraceptive pill developed by YourChoice Therapeutics. Participants included 16 healthy men between the ages of 32 and 59. So as not to risk their long-term fertility while the pill is still in its trial stages, only individuals with vasectomies were enrolled.
The new drug, called YCT-529, works by preventing sperm cell production and release. During the study, participants were split into two groups and given varying dosages of the drug. In the early stages of the study, the men took the pills on an empty stomach. Researchers later selected men from each cohort to ingest the contraceptive after a rich breakfast to test nutrition’s effect on tolerability.
The study revealed that the pill was well-tolerated, with no noticeable effects on participants’ heart rates, blood parameters, or testosterone levels. Researchers also found that YCT-529 had “no effect on [men’s] sexual desire or mood,” lead author Nadja Mannowetz explained in a press release. This is a far cry from female oral contraceptives—in one survey, 35 percent of women report experiencing at least one side effect or injury related to their birth control.
The trial follows previous research on the effects of YCT-529, which showed that the drug was completely reversible after six weeks, with no side effects in mice and primates. YourChoice Therapeutics is currently collecting data on how effective the contraceptive is at preventing pregnancy. Like other oral contraceptives, YCT-529 can’t prevent sexually transmitted diseases.
While the tolerability of the male contraceptive is impressive, the success of YCT-529 depends on another factor: are men actually willing to take the pill? According to Akash Bakshi, CEO of YourChoice Therapeutics, signs seem to point to yes.
“Studies and surveys continue to show that men want to share the burden of pregnancy prevention with their partners,” he said in the press release. “But they have just one non-permanent contraceptive option—condoms—and it’s 170 years old. Innovation is long overdue. Data show men favor an oral contraceptive and one that’s hormone-free, positioning YCT-529 as potentially transformative for a healthcare segment that’s been stagnant for more than a century and a half.”
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Emma Frederickson graduated from Pace University where she studied communication and media. Prior to her time as an editor, she was a freelance science reporter. She enjoys covering everything from shipwrecks to pimple popping, but her favorite topics include climate change, conspiracy theories, and weird biology. When she’s not writing, Emma can be found hopping between coffee shops on the hunt for the world’s best oat milk cappuccino.
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