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UK scientists invent male 'pill' that can be taken hours before sex
Daily Mail ^ | November 26, 2006 | FIONA MacRAE

Posted on 11/27/2006 12:10:43 AM PST by newzjunkey

British scientists have developed a revolutionary pill that men could take as a one-off contraceptive just before a date.

The tablet would prevent a man from being able to impregnate a woman, but within a few hours his fertility would return to normal.

This would make it much more acceptable to men than other 'male pills' under development, which alter hormone levels and have to be taken over the long term.

It is also more likely to be trusted by women as they are not relying on their man having to remember to take his pill every day for it to work.

The hormone-free 'male pill' was inspired by two medicines already in use and so the scientists hope it could be on the market within as little as five years.

Experts believe it could transform family planning by allowing couples to share the responsibility for contraception - a role that traditionally falls to women.

The new contraceptive is likely to appeal to women who are uneasy about the female Pill's ability to raise the risk of strokes, heart attacks and potentially-fatal blood clots.

Critics argue, that men lack women's motivation to prevent pregnancy, making it hard for women to trust them to take a contraceptive pill.

Other male pills are under development but many of them are based on hormones that trick the brain into switching off sperm production.

These are typically being developed as injections, implants and patches.

However the new pill being researched by scientists at King's College London, contains chemicals that prevent ejaculation and could be in tablet-form.

Men could take one daily, just like the female pill, or have one a few hours before sex as a one-off contraceptive.

Sexual satisfaction is not affected and the absence of hormones means that a man's fertility should return to normal within hours of stopping the treatment.

Researcher Dr Nnaemeka Amobi said: "The non-hormonal male pill could be taken when and as needed."

Fellow researcher Dr Christopher Smith said: "If the man was taking the pill over a period of several months and decided to come off it, we would expect his fertility to return just as quickly as if he had taken it on a one-off basis."

The contraceptive was inspired by the observation that some drugs used to treat schizophrenia and high blood pressure also prevent ejaculation.

However, side-effects including dizziness and drowsiness mean these medicines could not be marketed as contraceptives.

After pinning down how the drugs stop ejaculation, the London researchers set about creating tablets that do the same thing but without the side-effects.

Already tested in the lab, it is hoped human trials will start shortly and the pill on the market within the next five years.

Currently, men who want to take responsibility for contraception have limited choice, with their options extending to condoms, a vasectomy, or simple abstinence.

Professor John Guillebaud, one of Britain's leading experts on contraception, described the pill as "a brilliant discovery".

He said its strength lay in its ability to prevent pregnancy without using hormones which could cause side-effects such as hot flushes and moodiness.

If the male pill is successful it could bring in huge amounts of money to King’s College, which owns the rights to the discovery.

Annual world-wide sales of the female Pill are worth £21billion a year.

Rebecca Findlay, of the Family Planning Association, said: "It gets really tiring for women to always be the one in charge of fertility.

"For women, it would be another form of liberation. It's great."


TOPICS: Culture/Society; United Kingdom
KEYWORDS: christophersmith; contraceptive; familyplanning; fertility; johnguillebaud; kingcollege; malepill; moralabsolutes; nnaemekaamobi; plannedparenthood; prolife; womanslib; womenslib
Wow. Several issues/questions come to mind on this one.

First, they say it's great for women. Well, duh, women wouldn't be taking the risks associated with this pill. There will be risks.

They claim it works by preventing ejaculation. I could be wrong, but somehow I don't think that's going to appeal widely to men.

Women still shouldn't trust men to make use of such contraceptives and men, likewise, shouldn't trust women to remember their "pill" regimen. If you're carousing, as in many things, "Trust by verify."

This male pill will, of course, offer nothing to prevention of STDs/STIs. It might be of some practical use inside a marriage where the could is not ready for their next child.

Barrier methods, such as condoms, already exist that a woman can demand be used so she doesn't have to solely bear responsibility alone for pregnancy prevention.

1 posted on 11/27/2006 12:10:48 AM PST by newzjunkey
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To: newzjunkey
"...contains chemicals that prevent ejaculation...[sic]"

LMFAO

Oh yeah I will be taking it... NOT!!

2 posted on 11/27/2006 12:14:29 AM PST by expatguy (http://laotze.blogspot.com/)
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To: expatguy

I dunno, if it makes the you know what taste better, maybe more women would be willing to you know what.


3 posted on 11/27/2006 12:16:33 AM PST by krb (If you're not outraged, people probably like having you around.)
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To: krb

There would be no "you know what" to taste. It would, in a way, turn back the clock to pre-pubescent "dry" orgasms.


4 posted on 11/27/2006 12:24:42 AM PST by newzjunkey
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To: newzjunkey; expatguy; krb
> ... it works by preventing ejaculation

Gotta watch our terminology. For example, I had a vasectomy years ago. Had no noticeable effect on the amount of ejaculate (which comes from the prostate), but there aren't any sperm in it (they come from the testes). I received no reports of a taste change.

But stopping the ejaculation entirely is IMO both undesirable and a bit scary. When I was a kid, there were times when I got aroused in "inappropriate" times or places and tried to stop the ejaculation and it was damn near impossible. To do so chemically strikes me as Not A Good Idea somehow. It also sounds like it would take away a lot of the physical pleasure of the man's orgasm. So what's the point of the act, if you're not planning to procreate, and you're not going to enjoy it...??

Moreover, I'm not sure that women are going to like the idea of a "dry orgasm" in their man, except possibly those who are allergic to semen (there are some). Well, those who are wearing blue dresses from the Gap will be pleased to discover they don't have to take it to the cleaner, but it'll be harder to impeach their boyfriend.

All in all, not a great solution, IMO.

5 posted on 11/27/2006 1:01:34 AM PST by dayglored (Listen, strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government!)
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To: newzjunkey
but within a few hours his fertility would return

Hmmmm ........ just how many years has this little pill been tested?

;-)

6 posted on 11/27/2006 1:50:09 AM PST by beyond the sea ( Whiskey For My Men, Beer For My Horses)
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To: newzjunkey
However the new pill being researched by scientists at King's College London, contains chemicals that prevent ejaculation ----

****

That sort of puts the pee in the punch bowl, doesn't it?

7 posted on 11/27/2006 1:52:40 AM PST by beyond the sea ( Whiskey For My Men, Beer For My Horses)
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To: dayglored
Well, those who are wearing blue dresses from the Gap will be pleased to discover they don't have to take it to the cleaner, but it'll be harder to impeach their boyfriend. ----

****

lol

8 posted on 11/27/2006 1:54:50 AM PST by beyond the sea ( Whiskey For My Men, Beer For My Horses)
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To: newzjunkey

[...SHOULD return to normal within hours of stopping the treatment.]

..and if it doesn't?

Would this affect collecting DNA? I'm sure rapists will be interested in this little detail.


9 posted on 11/27/2006 6:05:25 AM PST by RetSignman (MSMDEMS: "If you tell a big enough lie, frequently enough, it becomes the truth")
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To: newzjunkey

At least it will be something new for the pope to ban. . . . . ;-)


10 posted on 11/27/2006 6:07:09 AM PST by AngloSaxonChristian
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To: newzjunkey
UK scientists invent male 'pill'

Bill Maher's mother delivered the male pill.

11 posted on 11/27/2006 7:26:49 AM PST by beyond the sea ( Whiskey For My Men, Beer For My Horses)
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To: beyond the sea

Somebody call Bill Maher and tell him there's a new male pill: Polonium 210


12 posted on 11/30/2006 6:30:03 AM PST by Callahan
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To: beyond the sea

Yeah, baby... I'm on the pill... That's the ticket.

13 posted on 11/30/2006 6:34:43 AM PST by Tijeras_Slim
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To: dayglored

"I received no reports of a taste change."

Dude.
Too. Much. Information.


14 posted on 11/30/2006 6:40:33 AM PST by ko_kyi
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To: Callahan
ROFL!

you made me laugh so hard, the song lyrics, "It's Five O'Clock Somewhere" came to mind!

;-)

15 posted on 11/30/2006 7:03:55 AM PST by beyond the sea ( Whiskey For My Men, Beer For My Horses)
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To: Tijeras_Slim

http://www.tv.com/seinfeld/the-pez-dispenser/episode/2271/summary.html


16 posted on 11/30/2006 7:05:46 AM PST by beyond the sea ( Whiskey For My Men, Beer For My Horses)
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To: Callahan
Question: If you're going to make a parachute jump, at least how high should you be?

Answer: Three days of steady drinking should do it.

17 posted on 11/30/2006 7:09:39 AM PST by beyond the sea ( Whiskey For My Men, Beer For My Horses)
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