Oral birth pill for men clears early-stage clinical trials, it's hormone-free and reversible

Unlike female birth control pills, YCT-529 doesn’t mess with the body’s hormones, which reduces the risk of common side effects like mood swings or weight gain (Representative image, Canva)

Birth control usually brings to mind horror stories; a friend dealing with side effects, a last-minute pharmacy run, or that nervous, “did we forget?” moment. But did you know that, until now, men haven’t had a real, hormone-free birth control option of their own? While women have had plenty of choices , from pills to patches to IUDs, men have only had two. That’s finally beginning to change.

A male birth control pill just passed clinical trials, and it’s hormone-free. According to research published in Communications Medicine by the University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy, a hormone-free drug called YCT-529 is showing serious promise. Developed with Columbia University and YourChoice Therapeutics, it prevents pregnancy by stopping sperm production, no hormones, no needles, and no long-term effects.

In male mice, the drug was 99 percent effective in preventing pregnancies in just four weeks. Non-human primates showed a drop in sperm count within two weeks. Once the drug was stopped, fertility returned to normal: within six weeks in mice, 10–15 weeks in primates. “A safe and effective male pill will provide more options to couples for birth control,” said Prof Gunda Georg, lead researcher. And according to Dr Nadja Mannowetz, CSO at YourChoice Therapeutics, human trials are progressing efficiently, bringing this innovation closer to everyday reality.

Also read | Contraception: Dos and don'ts you should know to maintain reproductive health, prevent STIs

5 reasons why this male contraceptive pill important:

• It’s hormone-free: Unlike female birth control pills, YCT-529 doesn’t mess with the body’s hormones, which reduces the risk of common side effects like mood swings or weight gain.

• It’s  reversible: Fertility fully returns after stopping the drug, giving men freedom without permanent decisions like vasectomy.

• It’s non-invasive and oral: No surgeries, no shots. Just a pill. The simplicity makes it easier to adopt and stick with.

• It’s  effective and fast-acting: In trials, the pill was 99 percent effective in mice and showed results in under a month — a huge leap from the slower timelines of past male contraceptive attempts.

• It balances reproductive responsibility: This new option allows couples to share the family planning load more equally, giving men real control over their reproductive choices.