Scientists work on a reversible male contraceptive that prevents sperm from swimming

A team of researchers from the United States has developed a compound capable of reducing the mobility of sperm: after testing its effectiveness in macaques, work is being done to convert EP055 into a male contraceptive pill.

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Without affecting the hormones and without being an irreversible method of contraception: this is the compound recently developed by researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the University of Science and Health of Oregon. Baptized with the name of EP055, the product would be able to hinder the movement of sperm.

According to the study published recently in 'PLOS ONE', this compound binds to certain proteins on the surface of sperm to alter their motility. Put another way, EP055 is able to prevent sperm from swimming.

"In short, the compound deactivates the sperm's ability to swim, significantly limiting the ability to fertilize," explains Michael O'Rand, one of the members of the research team that has developed the EP055. "This makes EP055 an ideal candidate for male non-hormonal contraception," he says.

The team tested the compound in macaques to which EP055 was given intravenously. At 30 hours after the injection, the mobility of his sperm was interrupted. In addition, the effects were lasting but reversible: "At 18 days after the injection, all the macaques showed signs of complete recovery, which suggests that EP055 is really reversible," the study authors say.

For now, we will have to wait for EP055 to become a reality available for human users. Now, the research team is testing the way to make the consumable compound through pills that fulfill their male contraceptive function reversibly.