Japan discovers new contraceptive for men.

The world is getting closer to developing an oral contraceptive specifically for men, after Japanese scientists identified a key protein crucial to male fertility.

The new experiments were conducted on mice, but the Japanese research team believes their discovery could be a long-awaited scientific breakthrough.

While women have had access to oral contraceptives for over half a century, contraceptive options for men remain limited to condoms and vasectomy. The introduction of an oral contraceptive for men would free women from the burden of family planning and spare them from the hormones found in conventional birth control pills.

According to a new research report published in the prestigious journal Science, experts from Osaka University (Japan) have identified a protein called calcineurin, which plays a crucial role in maintaining the normal functioning of sperm. Specifically, calcineurin, which also exists in humans, helps sperm swim normally and find their way to penetrate the egg.

Male individuals lacking this protein can still mate, but will not be able to impregnate females.

Experiments have also shown that a male contraceptive pill, based on the discovery of calcineurin, would take several days to become effective, and its effects would soon cease after the subject stops taking the medication. This could make the drug attractive to men concerned about the risk of reduced fertility from taking it.

Although more research is still needed before an oral contraceptive for men can be officially launched, scientists are extremely optimistic.

Nevertheless, Professor Masahito Ikawa, head of the Japanese research team, added: "Developing a drug that specifically inhibits the calcineurin substance in sperm could be the short-acting oral contraceptive we've been searching for. But would women trust men to take it? Probably not. Of course, the advice for them would still be to avoid having sex with someone they don't trust."

According to vietnamnet