Birth control pill for men through testosterone stopped.

A somewhat promising method of contraception, using a birth control pill, has failed for men. The pill is a medicine that is taken orally to control conception and pregnancy. They consist of synthetic hormones, especially hormones that determine sexual activity.

A pill for men that was supposed to involve testosterone though has to be stopped. Testosterone is a steroid sex hormone that is responsible for growth and development of masculine sexual characteristics. It directly influences the maturation of male sexual organs, development of sperm within the testes, sexual drive, erectile function of the penis amongst others.

The pill is administered orally and was thought promising because it was able to restrain the sexual drive in males when taken at a particular dose. Unfortunately, it was discovered that despite that, males administered with it still continue to produce and/or release sperm. Production and release of sperm goes against all that the pill was meant to be – to stop the production of sperm, not just the sexual drive.

Because of that, the administration of the testosterone-based pill will be stopped.

Further reading: Why some experimental forms of 'The Pill for Males' will never rise to the occasion .