For decades, birth control options for men have been limited to just two choices: condoms or a vasectomy.
Meanwhile, women have more than 20 types of approved contraceptives, including the widely used birth control pill. But that may soon change.
Scientists at the University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy, working with Columbia University and a biotech company called YourChoice Therapeutics, have developed a promising new male birth control pill called YCT-529.
What makes it special is that it’s hormone-free and taken orally, like the pill used by millions of women.
The team recently published their findings in Nature Communications, showing that YCT-529 successfully prevents pregnancy in lab animals—without any side effects.
In tests on male mice, the drug made them infertile and was 99% effective in preventing pregnancy after just four weeks.
When tested on male non-human primates, the drug lowered sperm counts within two weeks.
Importantly, fertility was fully restored after stopping the pill. Mice became fertile again within six weeks, and primates recovered in 10 to 15 weeks.
The drug works by blocking sperm production without using hormones, which often cause side effects in both men and women when used for birth control.
“A safe and effective male pill will give couples more options for family planning,” said Dr. Gunda Georg, the senior author of the study. “It also allows men to take more responsibility for birth control.”
The first human clinical trial of YCT-529 was successfully completed in 2024. The pill is now being tested further in a second trial to make sure it’s safe and effective for men.
“With nearly 50% of pregnancies in the U.S. and around the world being unplanned, there’s a clear need for more contraceptive choices—especially for men,” said Dr. Nadja Mannowetz, lead author and chief science officer at YourChoice Therapeutics.
This breakthrough could lead to the first-ever birth control pill for men that’s easy to use, reversible, and free from hormone-related side effects. If future trials go well, YCT-529 could be a major step toward shared responsibility in birth control and greater reproductive freedom for men.
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