Retarding Your Sperm

A contraceptive pill for men might one day be possible following the discovery of a genetic fault that leads to male infertility. And I hear the morning after version turns your gear into a high powered vacuum!

Attempts to come up with an oral contraceptive for men have so far failed because of the immense numbers of sperm produced each day as part of normal male reproduction, and the fact that some of those swimmers are sly bastards who elude death.

Scientists have determined the fault occurs in a gene that should enable the sperm to wriggle through the outer membrane of an unfertilised egg. They hope that by studying the way the gene works they might be able to both treat infertility in some men as well as design a drug that causes a reversible change in the ability of the sperm to fertilise an egg. Studies of extended families in Iran have identified a gene, CATSPER1, involved in an hereditary form of infertility.

Further research on mice showed the gene to be responsible for controlling the vigorous movements of sperm as they approach and penetrate the unfertilised egg. No further studies have been made linking the mice to the Iranians.