In this episode, host Rachel Feltman speaks with freelance science journalist Hannah Seo about a promising new development in male contraception: a hormone-free birth control pill that reversibly stops sperm production has just passed its first human safety trial. Seo explains how the drug works, what makes it different from hormone-based methods and where it stands in clinical development.
 
Recommended reading:
<a href="https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/male-birth-control-pill-yct-529-passes-human-safety-test/">First Hormone-Free Male Birth Control Pill Shown Safe in Early Human Trial</a>
<a href="https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/male-birth-control-is-in-development-but-barriers-still-stand-in-the-way/">Male Birth Control Is in Development, but Barriers Still Stand in the Way</a>
<a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s43856-025-01004-4">“Safety and Pharmacokinetics of the Non-Hormonal Male Contraceptive YCT-529,” by Nadja Mannowetz et al., in Communications Medicine, Vol. 5, Article No. 279. Published online July 22, 2025</a>

Email us at <a href="mailto:sciencequickly@sciam.com">sciencequickly@sciam.com</a> if you have any questions, comments or ideas for stories we should cover!
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Science Quickly is produced by Rachel Feltman, Fonda Mwangi, Kelso Harper and Jeff DelViscio. This episode was edited by Alex Sugiura. Shayna Posses and Aaron Shattuck fact-check the show. The theme music was composed by Dominic Smith. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://megaphone.fm/adchoices">megaphone.fm/adchoices</a>

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