Yes, you read correctly, I'm interested in a male birth control pill.
Alternatives like the female birth control pill, condoms, and methods
using injections/physician-inserted devices are not acceptable. There
is some interesting news relating to research on male birth control
pills on a simple Google search for "male birth control pill" [see
http://www.askmen.com/love/dzimmer_60/72b_love_answers.html] but not
much on what we can do now. A vasectomy is not acceptable, either.

What can we do NOW? What is a realistic assessment of the side effects
involved? I am a college student in California.

Thanks and have fun!

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Request for Question Clarification by librariankt-ga on 21 Jul 2004 13:48 PDT

Ralphs - Would you accept "no pills currently exist" as an answer?  I
can't find anything in pill form for guys... there _could_ be some
herbal/folk remedies, but without clinical trials it would be
difficult to gauge their effectiveness and side effects. - LKT

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Clarification of Question by ralphs-ga on 21 Jul 2004 13:48 PDT

purkinje, thank you for your helpful comment. I appreciate your
assessment of the side effects and the suggestion of clinical studies.
The media reports I've read on side effects, though, are decidedly
more optimistic than what you've told me.

If a researcher could locate a specific study in the area of Berkeley,
CA, I will tip happily :)

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Clarification of Question by ralphs-ga on 21 Jul 2004 13:51 PDT

Hi librariankt, "there is nothing" is not an acceptable answer to me
as this is not merely a research project. I am highly doubtful of
herbal/folk remedies and a satisfactory answer would probably take too
much time to convince me that it were true (but I am open to the
possibility).

You alluded to clinical trials, and I am open to the idea of
late-stage clinical trials (please specify which FDA stage) because I
realize that may be the only possibility.

Thanks!

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Clarification of Question by ralphs-ga on 07 Aug 2004 03:10 PDT

I've upped my price to $5.

Right now, as far as I know, there is nothing, because all attempts at
such have produced unwanted side-effects. To inhibit sperm production,
the contraceptive would have to inhibit testosterone action or
secretion. This could decrease libido and cause impotence (this, of
course, is just the opposite of what men taking these contraceptives
would want). More recently they have tried using certain antibodies to
inhibit sperm production in the seminiferous tubules. I don't know how
that's worked. Your only possible option would be to sign up for
clinical trials of such a drug. Keep an update on clinical trials by
going to http://www.centerwatch.com/patient/studies/cat374.html. I
don't see anything on there now though for male contraceptives.

purkinje, thank you for your helpful comment. I appreciate your
assessment of the side effects and the suggestion of clinical studies.
The media reports I've read on side effects, though, are decidedly
more optimistic than what you've told me.

If a researcher could locate a specific study in the area of Berkeley,
CA, I will tip happily :)

I have been told by a well respected fertility Dr. that a side effect
of a beta blocker is the "death" of the sperm in the body. How long or
how quickly it works is unknown to me. This was three years ago.