# Male Birth Control Pill Could Work in 30 Minutes

> Scientists may soon have a male birth control pill that stops sperm from fertilizing eggs in 30 minutes.
- Title: Male Birth Control Pill Could Work in 30 Minutes · Newsweek
- Summary: Scientists may soon have a male birth control pill that stops sperm from fertilizing eggs in 30 minutes. Scientists developed a male birth control pill that…
- Keywords: male birth control, sperm, enzyme, sac inhibitor, weill cornell medicine, nichd, unplanned pregnancies, fertility, hormonal contraceptives, Male, Birth, Control
- Source: Newsweek — https://newsweek.com/male-birth-control-pill-being-developed-to-take-30-minutes-before-sex-12609225
- Published: 2026-10-23T17:24:54+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: male birth control, sperm, enzyme, sac inhibitor, weill cornell medicine, nichd, unplanned pregnancies, fertility, hormonal contraceptives
## New Male Contraceptive Pill
Scientists received a multimillion dollar grant from NICHD to test a male birth control pill that provides 6-8 hours of pregnancy protection.

> it is extremely gratifying to receive the grant because few like it are awarded nationwide
## How the Pill Works
The pill uses an enzyme called soluble adenylyl cyclase (sAC) to temporarily stop sperm from swimming after ejaculation.

> if this enzyme is missing, men are infertile because while they ejaculate normally, their sperm do not travel through the female reproductive tract
## Current Contraception Limitations
Only 40 percent of U.S. pregnancies are planned, and men currently have limited options like condoms and vasectomies.

> about a third of women stop a hormonal method within the first year
## Why This Pill Matters
The pill could let men share responsibility for birth control without requiring continuous hormonal use.

> we need options that act before fertilization, that do not ask a healthy person to take hormones continuously
## Animal Studies Show No Side Effects
Animal tests found no side effects even at high doses over extended periods.

> no side effects have been noted in animal studies
## Safety Concerns Remain
Scientists worry about potential side effects in tissues beyond the testes, like the eye.

> some concerns that sAC protein is found and plays a role in tissues other than the testis
## Timeline for Human Testing
The pill could be tested in humans within two years after extensive animal safety testing.

> we hope to be able to test the pill in men in less than two years
## Next Steps for the Pill
Researchers will first test sperm under a microscope to confirm the drug's effect before moving to clinical trials with couples.

> the treated sperm will just sit on a microscope slide and twitch instead of the normal swimming pattern
## Challenges Ahead
The pill may take years to become available as real-world testing requires multiple phases.

> this real world testing of efficacy in couples requires several years
## Why Men Need This Pill
The pill addresses the asymmetry of responsibility in birth control where men are not the ones who bear the consequences if it fails.

> the person taking it is not the one who bears the consequence if it fails
## Key takeaway

Scientists developed a male birth control pill that temporarily blocks sperm function for up to 8 hours after taking, potentially reducing unintended pregnancies.