A new hormone contraceptive for men – which prevents sperm cells from reaching the ovum – is being researched by South African scientists.

Until now, most research into male contraceptives has been based on hormonal methods of providing high doses of testosterone. Non-hormonal methods are considered an alternative approach in the development of a contraceptive.

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None of the research is far enough however, to market a contraceptive pill or injection.

Preventing first contact
According to team leader Professor Danie Franken at Tygerberg Hospital's obstetrics and gynaecology department, the clear layer around the human egg (the Zona Pellucida) is the first and most important contact between a man and women on a reproductive level.

"This layer is the first hindrance to the sperm cells' race to fertilise the egg. If a sperm cell can be manipulated at this stage so that it cannot bind with the egg cell, fertilisation is impossible," says Franken.

Like a dirty car battery
The building blocks of the Zona Pellucida to which the sperm bind, are known as 'ZP3', says Franken. These form a protective layer around the egg cell.

Using a separation process, researchers removed the ZP3 blocks and introduced them to sperm cells in a laboratory. They found that the moment sperm bonded with ZP3, they were sterile and unable to fertilise the egg.

Franken compares this method of sterilisation to that of a car battery with dirty terminals. "If the car's battery terminals have too much build-up, they will not make proper contact. The same applies to a sperm cell coated in ZP3. It will no longer be able to make contact with the egg cell."

Permanent sterilisation
This new method of contraception will eventually be introduced by injecting men with ZP3. The ZP3 would also be injected into the woman to make the molecules on her egg cell impenetrable.

According to Franken, this injection could provide a permanent sterilisation method, unless a man or woman receives a fertility injection to reverse the effect when they wish to conceive.

"Positive family planning will probably move in the direction of permanent sterilisation in the future," says Franken.

The research is still in very early stages, and a contraceptive such as this is still as much as five to ten years away from being released on the market. – (Die Burger)

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