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Dimethandrolone, a modified form of testosterone, just might turn out to be the long-sought male contraceptive pill.

It blocks gonadotropin signaling and testosterone production in the testes. When capsules ranging in dose from 100 mg to 400 mg were given once daily to 100 men in a randomized, placebo controlled trial, the drop in testosterone was more than sufficient to block sperm production. Testosterone levels jumped back up to normal after the end of the 28-day trial, all without inducing liver toxicity or other serious problems.

“We are very excited [about] the results. It’s a big step forward in the development of the male pill. Our last great advance in male contraception was over 300 years ago with the development of the condom,” said senior investigator Stephanie Page, MD, PhD, head of the division of metabolism, endocrinology, and nutrition at the University of Washington, Seattle.

 

 

Some men reported a drop in libido that resolved by the end of the study. There was also mild weight gain and small reductions in HDL cholesterol. A few tweaks to the formulation or dosing might fix those problems. “Overall, we were very encouraged about the safety profile,” Dr. Page said.
Robert Lodge
Dr. Stephanie Page Stills


She explained the work, its promise, and the next steps in a video interview at the Endocrine Society’s annual meeting. The National Institutes of Health is funding development. Dr. Page didn’t have any relevant disclosures.

SOURCE: Page S et al. ENDO 2018, Abstract OR15-2.

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Dimethandrolone, a modified form of testosterone, just might turn out to be the long-sought male contraceptive pill.

It blocks gonadotropin signaling and testosterone production in the testes. When capsules ranging in dose from 100 mg to 400 mg were given once daily to 100 men in a randomized, placebo controlled trial, the drop in testosterone was more than sufficient to block sperm production. Testosterone levels jumped back up to normal after the end of the 28-day trial, all without inducing liver toxicity or other serious problems.

“We are very excited [about] the results. It’s a big step forward in the development of the male pill. Our last great advance in male contraception was over 300 years ago with the development of the condom,” said senior investigator Stephanie Page, MD, PhD, head of the division of metabolism, endocrinology, and nutrition at the University of Washington, Seattle.

 

 

Some men reported a drop in libido that resolved by the end of the study. There was also mild weight gain and small reductions in HDL cholesterol. A few tweaks to the formulation or dosing might fix those problems. “Overall, we were very encouraged about the safety profile,” Dr. Page said.
Robert Lodge
Dr. Stephanie Page Stills


She explained the work, its promise, and the next steps in a video interview at the Endocrine Society’s annual meeting. The National Institutes of Health is funding development. Dr. Page didn’t have any relevant disclosures.

SOURCE: Page S et al. ENDO 2018, Abstract OR15-2.

Dimethandrolone, a modified form of testosterone, just might turn out to be the long-sought male contraceptive pill.

It blocks gonadotropin signaling and testosterone production in the testes. When capsules ranging in dose from 100 mg to 400 mg were given once daily to 100 men in a randomized, placebo controlled trial, the drop in testosterone was more than sufficient to block sperm production. Testosterone levels jumped back up to normal after the end of the 28-day trial, all without inducing liver toxicity or other serious problems.

“We are very excited [about] the results. It’s a big step forward in the development of the male pill. Our last great advance in male contraception was over 300 years ago with the development of the condom,” said senior investigator Stephanie Page, MD, PhD, head of the division of metabolism, endocrinology, and nutrition at the University of Washington, Seattle.

 

 

Some men reported a drop in libido that resolved by the end of the study. There was also mild weight gain and small reductions in HDL cholesterol. A few tweaks to the formulation or dosing might fix those problems. “Overall, we were very encouraged about the safety profile,” Dr. Page said.
Robert Lodge
Dr. Stephanie Page Stills


She explained the work, its promise, and the next steps in a video interview at the Endocrine Society’s annual meeting. The National Institutes of Health is funding development. Dr. Page didn’t have any relevant disclosures.

SOURCE: Page S et al. ENDO 2018, Abstract OR15-2.

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