The Male Pill

The Male Pill Is On It's Way

By Anita Davis

Soon it may not be just women remembering to pop the pill everyday.

The University of Massachusetts Medical School has signed a licensing agreement with the Norwegian company SpermaTech to produce a male birth control pill that will prevent a sperm's ability to swim.

Dr. Michael Cohen, UMMS spokesman, said the drug's design has been finalized but it will take time before it is ready to hit the market.

"We're not at the stage where we have a pill yet," Cohen said. "It's impossible to predict how long drug development will take - the soonest will probably be five to seven years."

The new drug will target a protein found in sperm cells that controls the sperm's ability to swim. UMMS doctors have found that deactivating this protein hinders the sperm's ability to travel through a female's reproductive tract to fertilize an egg.

Cohen said that tests to deactivate the protein have successfully been performed on lab mice.

"We support this research on a number of levels," he said. "We very much support alternate forms of contraception ... I think there are many men who will find this to be a good option."

Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts spokeswoman Erin Rowland said a male birth control pill would modernize sexual relationships.

"It would be revolutionary if a male birth control pill was developed," Rowland said. "It would offer a new opportunity for males to share the responsibility for contraception ... contraception for men is very limited."

Rowland said that the pill would be available at Planned Parenthood as long as it was safe to take.

"Our top priority's with patient safety," she said.

Rowland said she fears ignorance of the pill's use could lead to an increase in sexually transmitted diseases.

"[The pill is] not a substitute for a condom," she said.

Some Boston University students, although excited about the pill, share the same concern.

College of General Studies sophomore Danny Kim said that he thinks the pill will have a positive impact as long as it is used carefully.

"I think it's a good idea but I'm worried about the side effects and the increase in STDs," he said. "I mean, if people aren't using condoms, then STDs will spread. But it's still a good idea."

Kim said he would be open to taking the pill because "I'm an open-minded guy."

CGS sophomore Riley Clark said the pill would be a great alternative to condoms to prevent pregnancies.