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The Life Scientific

Chris Barratt on head-banging sperm and a future male contraceptive pill

Aug 22, 2023
Professor Chris Barratt, Head of Reproductive Medicine, discusses the decline in worldwide sperm counts, his research on 'head-banging sperm', and the potential game-changing impact of a male contraceptive pill. He also explores the development of a home sperm analysis kit and the investigation of interrupting the cat's birth channel as a male contraceptive.
28:39

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Quick takeaways

  • The declining sperm counts worldwide highlight the need to focus on studying male reproductive health and developing effective male contraception beyond condoms and vasectomy to achieve reproductive equity and alleviate the burden on women for contraception.
  • Advancements in fertility science, including understanding human-specific mechanisms and proteins related to fertilization, have the potential to offer better diagnostic tools and more contraception options, ultimately improving reproductive choice for couples and paving the way for personalized male contraception options.

Deep dives

The Decline in Sperm Counts and Male Infertility

Reproductive science has made significant progress in fertility treatments like IVF and egg freezing. However, there are concerns about the declining sperm counts worldwide. Sperm counts have dropped by 62% in the past 50 years, and the reason behind this decline is still unknown. The decreasing sperm counts pose a concern for fertility and can affect challenges in getting pregnant. Male fertility research has been largely overlooked, with the focus mainly on female fertility. The development of a widely available and effective male contraceptive pill has been lacking since the introduction of condoms, thus placing a burden on women for contraception. However, studies show that men are willing to use a male contraceptive pill if available. The development of a male contraceptive pill would significantly impact reproductive choice and family planning, helping to reduce unwanted pregnancies and unsafe abortions.

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