A male contraceptive pill could be available within a decade, after Melbourne scientists discovered a chemical that acts as a temporary vasectomy.
Monash University scientists say they have discovered a way to make male mice temporarily infertile by deleting two proteins essential for sperm transport.
"Our technique is good because it's not hormonal, so males won't be afraid to take it," Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences senior lecturer Dr Sab Ventura told the Herald Sun.
"It's easily reversible, so young people could take it and still have viable sperm; and it's not going to have any future effects on offspring."
A second drug to stop the second sperm transport protein still needs to be developed, however.
Should that happen, a male contraceptive pill could be ready within five to 10 years, Dr Ventura said.
