Researchers hail male pill breakthrough

South African researchers have made a significant breakthrough in developing an oral contraceptive for men.

And if all goes according to plan, men will be able to take responsibility for their feats between the sheets by popping a pill derived from plants.

Unlike other male contraceptives undergoing clinical trials, preliminary tests at the University of the Western Cape (UWC) have shown the pill to be without side effects, apart from temporarily influencing sperm production.

On the eve of World Contraception Day, local scientists led by Professor David Fisher have unveiled "molecule x" .

The studies showed that "molecule x", found in herbs, caused temporary infertility in male mice, rats and rabbits. The animals became fertile again after three months.

Department of Health spokesman Fidel Hadebe said more than 21700 abortions were performed at public hospitals around the country last year, while private clinic group Marie Stopes performed 51185.

Professor Ralf Henkel, head of UWC's male contraceptive programme, said: "Contraception is also a man's problem."

Fisher said: "One set of mice were exposed to 'molecule x' for an entire year. There were no side effects, no difference in appetite, and not even their libidos were affected. The animals taking 'molecule x' were as frisky as the control groups."

This study spans eight years, but picked up steam when a condom-manufacturing company provided funding this year.

Fisher said "molecule x" inhibited sperm production by affecting the "blood-testes barrier" in testicles.

He said: "We need to be careful that it doesn't affect anything else in the body. It needs to be extensively tested on a whole range of animal models, upgrading eventually to primates and then clinical trials on humans.

"It is important to test that 'molecule x' does not affect the blood-brain barrier. We want to prevent having men who are senile and sterile."

Over the past two decades, hopeful scientists have invented various male contraceptives, including testosterone injections, gels, ultrasound scans and spray-on condoms - and many of them are still being tested.

Ultrasound scanning of the testes by the University of North Carolina in the US has been met with both enthusiasm and scepticism, while a testosterone injection is being tested in China.

But Fisher said taking testosterone could pose a hazard. "Men with prostate problems can increase their cancer risk if they take testosterone," he said.

He said "molecule x" had anti-carcinogenic properties. "We grew cancer cells in our laboratory. Normally cancer cells multiply at a particular rate, but when exposed to 'molecule x', growth division slowed down."

He said the substance was derived from a herb, which he did not want to name, and could be available to consumers after more tests in about eight years.

"It may be a daily pill. We're also considering a slow-release capsule placed under the skin that is replaced every three months."

• A website designed to give teenagers and parents in-depth information about unplanned and unwanted pregnancies and contraception has been launched to dovetail with World Contraception Day, being commemorated in more than 70 countries tomorrow. Visit www.yourlifenow.co.za