Scientists make male contraceptive pill breakthrough

Remembering to take your pill could become a thing of the past thanks to new developments by British scientists towards a new male contraceptive pill.

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Scientists have found a way of ‘switching off’ sperm’s ability to move, with a newly discovered compound penetrating the surface of the sperm and stopping their tails from wiggling.

This means the sperm can’t move, and isn’t able to fertilise a woman’s egg.

“The results are startling – and almost instant,” says lead researcher Professor John Howl. “When you take healthy sperm and add our compound, within a few minutes the sperm basically cannot move.”

Researchers say the technology could even take the form of a nasal spray which men use just before sex, with effects wearing off within days.

"This is a totally unique approach – nobody else has ever done this before," adds Professor Howl.

This could prove to be a miracle breakthrough for women who aren’t able to take the pill for medical reasons.

But before you throw your pill packet away and schedule the boyfriend on contraception duty, it might be a while before these new developments make their way into our bedrooms.

Scientists hope to start live tests in the next two to three years, with hopes to get the final product on the market by 2021.

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