Tribesman on the Indonesian island of Papau
have long been using the gandarusa plant to keep them from getting their
wives pregnant. Researchers began looking into the plant in 1988 and started testing it in the 1990s.
They've found that the plant has no effect on the health of the sperm, but weakens it and prevents pregnancy by slowing down the activity of certain enzymes in the sperm that help them wriggle into a female’s ovum. The problem with making a gandarusa pill for male birth control is that it isn't profitable for the companies to produce, but it is important for population control.
Researchers have tested the pill on two waves of male volunteers: First 36 men, then 120 men. This year, they’ll conduct a 350-man study to reinforce their findings so far: That trial volunteers’ sperm remains healthy but unable to penetrate a woman’s egg. Men taking the gandarusa pills typically regain the ability to impregnate after 72 days and there are no side effects.
They've found that the plant has no effect on the health of the sperm, but weakens it and prevents pregnancy by slowing down the activity of certain enzymes in the sperm that help them wriggle into a female’s ovum. The problem with making a gandarusa pill for male birth control is that it isn't profitable for the companies to produce, but it is important for population control.
Researchers have tested the pill on two waves of male volunteers: First 36 men, then 120 men. This year, they’ll conduct a 350-man study to reinforce their findings so far: That trial volunteers’ sperm remains healthy but unable to penetrate a woman’s egg. Men taking the gandarusa pills typically regain the ability to impregnate after 72 days and there are no side effects.
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