NationStates Jolt Archive

Berlin firm developing male contraceptive pill
Berlin: Berlin-based pharmaceutical company Schering is working on a contraceptive pill for men and success seems not far away.

The male contraceptive, which comes almost 45 years after Schering developed the female contraceptive pill, is just skin deep - in the form of an implanted hormonal capsule and an injection given every few months.

This project is headed by a slightly-built 53-year-old woman, Professor Ursula-Friederike Habenicht, who runs the global Gynaecology and Andrology Research sector for Schering.

"This is just an initial step, just getting a foot in the door," says Habenicht, who has long been considering possible approaches to male contraception.

Habenicht is in charge of a large group of scientists who are pursuing these ideas in teams scattered through various laboratories.

The main problem facing the researchers is the fact that a woman releases just one egg per month that might be fertilised, whereas a man produces between 70 and 100 million sperm per day - and all of these without exception have to be reined in.

"The combination of the gestagene (hormonal capsule) implant and the testosterone injection causes the brain to stop the sperm production in the testicles," the professor says.

This occurs because the procedure artificially increases the level of body's testosterone, leading the brain to believe that sufficient sperm are already present. It therefore ceases to send out signals ordering further production.

Since the complete sperm production cycle requires 70 days on the average, it takes quite a while for the very last little critter to disappear. Only after three to six months is the sperm count reduced to zero.

>>>FULL STORY (http://www.newkerala.com/news.php?action=fullnews&id=93138)


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You are supposed to give your own opinion about the article when you link one. This is not a news aggregator or a place where rejected fark.com stories are given a new chance.

Tough little wigglers, aren't they? :)

This project is headed by a slightly-built 53-year-old woman, Professor Ursula-Friederike Habenicht, who runs the global Gynaecology and Andrology Research sector for Schering.


Any ideas on why that distinction was made?

Any ideas on why that distinction was made?
Fat people have no credibility? :eek:

Berlin-based pharmaceutical company Schering is working on a contraceptive pill for men and success seems not far away.
Various companies have worked on a male contraceptive pill during (at least) the last two decades. And every single time success didn't seem far away.. And then we never heard anything about it again.
These sorts of reports are just a way to get stocks up and don't generally mean anything.

Various companies have worked on a male contraceptive pill during (at least) the last two decades. And every single time success didn't seem far away.. And then we never heard anything about it again.
These sorts of reports are just a way to get stocks up and don't generally mean anything.
If you want to wander into tinfoil hat territory, you can start asking yourself why these male contraceptives never really get going. In many cases, it's because the marketting departments conclude that males aren't willing to take a treatment that diminishes their "maleness" by interfering with their sperm, and therefore the profits are not sufficient to justify going to market with the treatment.

I don't know if there is any truth to that...what do you say guys? Would you be prepared to take a male birth control treatment, provided that it had approximately the same level of success (and the same risk factor) as the current female Pill?

If you want to wander into tinfoil hat territory, you can start asking yourself why these male contraceptives never really get going. In many cases, it's because the marketting departments conclude that males aren't willing to take a treatment that diminishes their "maleness" by interfering with their sperm, and therefore the profits are not sufficient to justify going to market with the treatment.

I don't know if there is any truth to that...what do you say guys? Would you be prepared to take a male birth control treatment, provided that it had approximately the same level of success (and the same risk factor) as the current female Pill?

I probably don't need it anymore. :( I'm amazed I had one kid!

There is another problem with a male contraceptive pill. Men aren't the ones that get pregnant anyway, so they have less incentive to take the pills.
If I were a women I'm not sure I would put much faith in men claiming to use it.

Men aren't the ones that get pregnant anyway, so they have less incentive to take the pills.

Two words: Punitive alimony.

Two words: Punitive alimony.Four words: Anonymous one night stand. :p

Four words: Anonymous one night stand. :p

Two more words: DNA testing.

Two more words: DNA testing.four more words: world population, six billion

10 additional words: why are we declaring the number of words that follow? :rolleyes:

uncounted number of words: I love and admire guys who would take this responsibility, but, as the one who might get pregnant, I wouldn't give up on female contraceptives.

Hey, belt AND suspenders is a perfectly chic look, imo.

uncounted number of words: I love and admire guys who would take this responsibility, but, as the one who might get pregnant, I wouldn't give up on female contraceptives.

Hey, belt AND suspenders is a perfectly chic look, imo.

Absolutely.

Hey, belt AND suspenders is a perfectly chic look, imo.Adn you might as well wear a hat as well.

Adn you might as well wear a hat as well.
Okay, I guess I've never been to that wild a party. ;)

four more words: world population, six billion

The worst two-word phrases EVER:

I'm pregnant.
It's yours.
Child Support.

Give me the damn pill. NOW.

Wait, from the quoted article it seems that the technique is to boost testosterone in order to halt sperm production. So why don't we just legalize anabolic steroids? We can all just be big, sterile monsters.

Wait, from the quoted article it seems that the technique is to boost testosterone in order to halt sperm production. So why don't we just legalize anabolic steroids? We can all just be big, sterile monsters.

That's exactly what I was thinking.

More testosterone is harmful when related to steroids...
But this stuff is A-OK???

I think I'll pass.

That's exactly what I was thinking.

More testosterone is harmful when related to steroids...
But this stuff is A-OK???

I think I'll pass.
Oh well, so much for that idea. Now where'd I put that diaphragm...

That's exactly what I was thinking.

More testosterone is harmful when related to steroids...
But this stuff is A-OK???

I think I'll pass.
Meh, I'd take it. It would probably motivate me to get back into the wieght room.

Meh, I'd take it. It would probably motivate me to get back into the wieght room.

Meh...I don't really want kids anyways. If it comes down to it, I'll probably just go with the snippage. :eek:

Why would someone want to make a pill that makes men infertile? Anyone else notice that the one behind the project is a "slightly-built" woman? Why do I have a suspicion that this "woman" might be a bit radical? Femenists need feme-nazis as much as they need institutional sexism against women. I'll shut up now.

Why would someone want to make a pill that makes men infertile? Anyone else notice that the one behind the project is a "slightly-built" woman? Why do I have a suspicion that this "woman" might be a bit radical? Femenists need feme-nazis as much as they need institutional sexism against women. I'll shut up now.

I'd be amazed if any guy would want to take this pill. Just thinking about what might go wrong... <shudders>.

Why would someone want to make a pill that makes men infertile? Anyone else notice that the one behind the project is a "slightly-built" woman? Why do I have a suspicion that this "woman" might be a bit radical? Femenists need feme-nazis as much as they need institutional sexism against women. I'll shut up now.

Well we have pills that make women infertile that were developed by men. I assume you object as wholeheartedly to that as well?

I'd be amazed if any guy would want to take this pill. Just thinking about what might go wrong... <shudders>.
What? Bitch tits?

What? Bitch tits?

Use your imagination. :D

Why not just get snipped? You can always get it restored if you change your mind and it's like a 15 minute procedure.

Why not just get snipped? You can always get it restored if you change your mind and it's like a 15 minute procedure.

Because getting it restored isn't so simple.

Because getting it restored isn't so simple.


but you can get it restored

Because getting it restored isn't so simple.

In the US, microsurgical vasovasostomy patency rates tend to be 90% and pregnancy rates 76%.

In the US, microsurgical vasovasostomy patency rates tend to be 90% and pregnancy rates 76%.


Don't they have a clip version as well so the snip isn't really necessary anymore?

Don't they have a clip version as well so the snip isn't really necessary anymore?

Yes, but there is no data to indicate that clips are more reversible than conventional vasectomies. Also, I hear, US medical insurance companies often do not cover a procedure with clips.

I'd gladly use it if the risks were negligible. Suppose I won't be allowed to donate blood though..

Great sex vs. saving people's lives. Think I'll have to consult google fight for this. ;)

There has been a male contraceptive around for years; its not a condom, its a pill. You put it in your shoe and it makes you limp.

Why would someone want to make a pill that makes men infertile? Anyone else notice that the one behind the project is a "slightly-built" woman? Why do I have a suspicion that this "woman" might be a bit radical? Femenists need feme-nazis as much as they need institutional sexism against women. I'll shut up now.
Were you terribly bruised by a thin woman once, in your youth?