Revolution in Contraception: Researchers Target Male Infertility!

Revolution in Contraception: Researchers Target Male Infertility!

An international consortium led by the University of Münster has received funding of five million dollars from the Gates Foundation. This significant financial support aims to improve early detection of male infertility and advance contraceptive research. The research efforts are supported by other institutions, including the universities of Birmingham and Dundee.

The global problem of inadequate contraception affects over 200 million women worldwide who do not have access to modern contraceptives. The repeated focus on female contraception has highlighted the need to also develop non-hormonal contraceptive methods for women to promote their empowerment. This project is committed to focusing attention on male infertility, which is often overlooked.

Research on sperm and infertility

The research team plans to investigate the causes of male infertility in more detail. Special emphasis is placed on sperm function by comparing sperm from 1,000 fertile men with those from 1,000 infertile men. The goal is to determine critical sperm functions that are crucial for successful fertilization.

Professor Timo Strünker, who coordinates the study, emphasizes the urgency of new analytical methods to detect functional defects within sperm. Novel analysis techniques are used that enable a large-scale comparison of sperm. In particular, the movement pattern of the sperm tail is the focus of the investigations, as this is crucial for the ability to move and thus fertilize eggs.

Another aspect of the study is the development of active ingredients that can temporarily switch off sperm in the female body. A new analysis software called 'FAST' is used to evaluate the beating pattern of the sperm. The study participants are recruited in Germany, England and Scotland. The study has already started and is expected to be completed within two years.

Development of male contraceptives

The challenge of male contraception has become increasingly important in recent decades. Although past pharmacological approaches to developing male contraceptives have failed, there is now new hope through the identification of a specific ion channel. This so-called SLO3 channel, found in human sperm, plays a crucial role in their movement by pumping potassium ions out of the sperm and giving them momentum.

A US research team has identified the SLO3 channel as a potential target for innovative male contraceptives. A chemical agent has been discovered that can block the duct, significantly limiting the ability of sperm to reproduce. Since the SLO3 channel is only found in sperm, this would facilitate the development of a specific contraceptive for men. However, it is important to conduct further research to investigate possible side effects and to meet the extensive approval requirements.

It remains to be seen how quickly attractive and safe contraceptive methods for men will come onto the market. However, interest in male contraceptive research could lead to a rethink as developments continue to advance in the coming years.

For more information, see the reports from Medicine University of Münster, daily news and the further results of international studies.