An on-demand, non-hormonal male contraceptive pill may be a real possibility, according to scientists.
Researchers have found a cell pathway, or switch, that stops sperm from being able to swim. Tests in mice suggest the "sperm-swim" switch keeps sperm stunned for at least a few hours - long enough to stop them reaching the egg. If it does ultimately work in humans, the idea is men could take a pill an hour before sex and keep an eye on the clock for when it wears off. Many more tests are planned and needed, moving to rabbits before people.