Male birth control pill might finally be here- the burden of birth control has disproportionately fallen on women. That may soon change. A groundbreaking experimental male birth control pill, YCT-529, has successfully passed its first human safety trial — without any significant side effects. The result marks a pivotal step toward giving men more contraceptive options beyond condoms or vasectomy.

Developed through a collaboration between the University of Minnesota, Columbia University, and biotech company YourChoice Therapeutics, YCT-529 is distinct from previous male contraceptive attempts because it is non-hormonal. That means it sidesteps the hormonal manipulation that often causes side effects in traditional contraceptives, making it a potentially safer and more acceptable option for widespread use.

Unlike female birth control pills that regulate estrogen and progesterone, YCT-529 works by targeting a specific protein known as retinoic acid receptor alpha. This protein, activated by vitamin A derivatives, plays a critical role in sperm production and maturation. The drug effectively blocks the receptor, halting sperm production without impacting other bodily systems.

“The innovation here lies in how precisely this pill works,” explained Dr. Gunda Georg, professor at the University of Minnesota’s College of Pharmacy. “We’re not interfering with the body’s hormonal balance, which is a huge step forward in terms of safety and user experience.”

How the Male Contraceptive Pill Works?

The experimental male birth control pill, known as YCT-529, targets a specific protein called retinoic acid receptor alpha (RAR-α)—a key player in sperm production. Normally, this receptor gets activated by a vitamin A derivative, which acts like a key turning on the body’s sperm-making machinery. YCT-529 blocks that key from fitting into the receptor, effectively shutting down the process.

By stopping this molecular interaction in the testes, the pill halts the formation and maturation of sperm. Scientists identified this mechanism by studying the receptor's structure and testing dozens of compounds to find one that could selectively block it.

In lab tests on male mice, the pill worked remarkably well. It brought sperm production to a halt within four weeks, was 99% effective at preventing pregnancy, and had no significant side effects. Importantly, the effects were reversible—mice regained fertility within four to six weeks after stopping the pill.

Unlike hormonal methods that can disrupt testosterone and cause mood or libido changes, this non-hormonal approach targets a specific biological pathway, making it a promising, low-risk alternative in male contraception research.

The initial preclinical testing in lab mice was promising: male mice treated with YCT-529 became temporarily infertile within four weeks. The drug had a 99% effectiveness rate in preventing pregnancy, and fertility rebounded four to six weeks after stopping treatment. Similar results were seen in nonhuman primates, where sperm counts dropped significantly but later recovered completely.

This encouraging data paved the way for a Phase 1 clinical trial involving 16 human volunteers aged 32 to 59 — all of whom had previously undergone vasectomies. This added layer of safety ensured that even in the event of unexpected long-term side effects, fertility would not be a concern.

Participants were divided into groups that received either a placebo, a low dose, or a high dose of the drug. Some took the pill on an empty stomach, while others took it after a meal to assess absorption differences.

No significant side effects were reported across any dose or condition. Heart rate, hormone levels, mood, inflammation, and sexual function all remained stable, a rare feat for early-stage contraceptive development.

While 16 people make for a strong safety signal, larger trials are needed to confirm YCT-529’s safety and, more importantly, its efficacy in real-world scenarios. Researchers are now moving ahead with longer studies involving daily use over 28 to 90 days. These new trials will monitor not just side effects, but changes in sperm count and motility, setting the stage for potential FDA approval.

Dr. Nadja Mannowetz, co-founder and chief science officer of YourChoice Therapeutics, emphasized that while the early data is encouraging, they're moving forward cautiously. “Our next trials will give us a much clearer picture of how this drug works in daily life — and whether it can become a reliable option for men everywhere.”

Currently, male contraception is stuck in the past. Only condoms and vasectomies are FDA-approved options for men, while women navigate a far more complex landscape of pills, patches, injections, implants, and IUDs — many of which come with long lists of side effects.

This imbalance has consequences. Nearly 75% of women say they believe both partners should be equally responsible for contraception, but the tools to support that belief simply don’t exist.

"A safe and effective male pill will provide more options to couples for birth control,” Dr. Georg noted. “It will allow a more equitable sharing of responsibility for family planning and provide reproductive autonomy for men.”

The journey to develop male contraception has been long and winding. Past attempts, particularly hormone-based options, stumbled due to low effectiveness or unpleasant side effects like mood swings, acne, or reduced libido. YCT-529 represents a dramatic departure from those efforts. By targeting the molecular machinery of sperm production, it gets the job done without compromising other bodily functions.

Still, hurdles remain. Even if the next stages of trials confirm its effectiveness, it could be years before YCT-529 is available to the public. Manufacturing, regulatory approval, public education, and access issues will all need to be addressed.

That said, the early buzz is unmistakable. Scientists are cautiously optimistic. Reproductive health advocates are hopeful. And couples around the world are watching closely.

This isn’t just about birth control. It’s about giving men agency over their reproductive choices, and relieving women of the disproportionate burden they’ve carried for decades. It’s about science catching up with society’s expectations.

As we enter a new era in contraceptive innovation, YCT-529 could become the first of many tools that give men a real seat at the table when it comes to family planning. The next phase of trials will tell us more. But for now, the signal is clear: male birth control is no longer science fiction. It’s becoming science fact and it’s arriving not a moment too soon.

A recent study by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) showed that more than 40 percent of prostate cancer patients in the country are diagnosed after the cancer has spread.

The 43 percent of late diagnosis cases indicates the significant burden of late detection of prostate cancer in the country. This can not only limit treatment options but also lead to poorer survival outcomes.

The study, published in the Indian Journal of Surgical Oncology, revealed that while more than 80 per cent began treatment within two months, but referral patients experienced longer delays.

Researchers from the ICMR’s National Centre for Disease Informatics and Research, in Bengaluru, stressed the need to strengthen referral pathways to ensure timely, stage-appropriate care.

“Our study indicates that over 80 percent of patients commence treatment within two months of diagnosis, but referral systems and delays in care persist,” said corresponding author Prashant Mathur, Director, ICMR-NCDIR, in the paper.

“To address these challenges, the healthcare system must prioritize improving referral efficiency, reducing administrative bottlenecks, enhancing coordination through digital health records, and multidisciplinary tumor boards,” the authors added.

Age, The Strongest Risk Factor For Prostate Cancer

The ICMR study is based on an analysis of 9,347 cases from 96 hospitals under the National Cancer Registry Program.

The researchers found that 75.6 percent of total prostate cancer cases occurred in the age group of 60–80 years, indicating that advanced age remains the biggest risk factor for the condition.

As life expectancy increases, more men reach the higher-risk age group, but awareness and screening practices have not scaled proportionately.

Adenocarcinoma was the most common pathology, constituting 77 percent of cases.

It is the most common form of prostate cancer, accounting for over 95 per cent of all cases. It develops in the gland cells that produce prostate fluid and typically grows slowly over several years.

Further, the ICMR researchers noted that about 57 percent of cases were diagnosed with localized (29.9 percent) or locoregional (27 percent) cancer.

Thirty percent underwent surgical treatment, and 22 percent received radiation therapy. Systemic therapy was the most common single modality treatment.

“Early detection and streamlined referral pathways are essential to improve prostate cancer outcomes in India,” the researchers said.

Prostate Cancer And Its Prevalence In India

Prostate cancer forms in the cells of the prostate -- a gland found only in males and a part of the male reproductive system. It lies below the urinary bladder and in front of the rectum.

Nearly all prostate cancers develop from glandular cells (adenocarcinomas).

Globally, prostate cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer among men in 112 countries and the leading cause of cancer death in 48 countries. In 2020, an estimated 1.4 million new cases of prostate cancer and 0.37 million deaths were reported worldwide.

In India, it is the second most common cancer among men, accounting for more than 60 percent of the prostate cancer burden in South-Central Asia. As per the ICMR data, the country reported 34,540 incidences of prostate cancer and 16,783 deaths.

Prostate cancer symptoms include urinary difficulty, a weak stream, or blood in the urine.

As prostate cancer is a slow-developing disease, it often causes no symptoms during the early-stage, leading to delayed medical consultation.

Other reasons for late detection in India include low awareness, limited routine screening -- PSA (prostate-specific antigen) programs; social stigma and hesitation due to embarrassment or cultural taboos.

Lack of access to specialist care, diagnostic facilities, and cancer centers, especially in rural populations, coupled with cost and referral gaps, also leads to delay in diagnosis.

In a shocking video, a woman who ordered packaged eggs sold by Eggoz from Zepto claims they were filled with plastic-made strands instead of yolk, however the brand soon quoted FSSAI's rules and issued a clarification.

Earlier this week, Shalini Singh shared an Instagram video of six eggs that appear to have yellow, thread-like strands emerging from within, suggesting that instead of slimy yolk, she found a plastic substance bursting out of the eggs after boiling them.

In the clip, the visibly upset customer is heard saying: “Until now we had only heard that fake eggs or plastic eggs were being sold in the market, but today I witnessed an example in my own home. I ordered Eggoz Everyday brand eggs from Zepto and as soon as I put them on to boil, instead of yolk, plastic started coming out from inside."

Pointing at the cracked eggs, she added, “You can see in the video yourself, plastic is coming out in the form of noodles. Each egg has the Eggoz Everyday stamp on it. Look at how plastic fake eggs are reaching our homes.

“This is what we are buying today. If they had been cooked in another way, we might not even have realized we were consuming plastic. These boiled eggs burst, and that is how we found out it was plastic. If this is the condition of such big brands today, what is even left safe to eat?"

Can Egg Yolks Be Filled With Plastic?

"Consumers need to remember that the quality and appearance of the egg mostly depend on the way they are stored and for how long they are stored. Egg quality is best maintained when they are stored in cold temperatures preferably inside refrigerators and consumed within a period of 2 to 3 days.

"When kept in room temperature, several changes take place in an egg that bring about differences in the smell, texture and appearance of the egg."

The FSSAI further suggested holding up an egg against a very bright light in a dark room to detect its age. If its fresh, the egg will display a small air gap usually at the broader (blunt) end and if its starting to age, the air cell will expand in volume.

Upon hard boiling a fresh egg, you can clearly see the indentation left behind at the top of the egg once the shell is peeled off.

When fresh eggs are boiled, the yolk normally stays in the center and is not very mobile because of the chalaza (the strings of tissue) that hold it in place. These strings break down as the egg ages (during storage or transportation). When hard boiled eggs are cut length wise, one can see that the yolk has moved off the centre.

What Did The Company Say?

"Thank you for bringing this to our attention."

They also reached out with an official clarification, stating that there is no such thing as plastic eggs and that the claims stem from common misconceptions, quoting FSSAI's guidance.

In an official statement, the brand commented: "There are no plastic eggs. Eggs are a natural agricultural product, and variations in texture or appearance may occur due to storage or temperature conditions at different stages after production. Such natural changes do not indicate the presence of artificial or plastic material and do not affect food safety."

The company also highlighted its commitment to strict farm-to-shelf quality processes, including hygienic handling, batch traceability and temperature-controlled logistics.

Denmark has become the first country in the European Union (EU) to eliminate mother-to-child transmission (EMTCT) of HIV and syphilis -- two serious, and often co-occurring, sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

The World Health Organization (WHO) validated Denmark for the EMTCT of HIV and syphilis, for low transmission rates and high coverage of prenatal testing and treatment for pregnant women from 2021 to 2024.

“The elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis marks a major public health achievement for Denmark,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General.

“This milestone demonstrates that with strong political commitment and consistent investment in primary care and integrated maternal and child health services, countries can protect every pregnant woman and newborn from these diseases,” he added.

With the recognition, Denmark is now among 22 other countries and territories validated by WHO for the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, syphilis, or hepatitis B virus.

How Denmark Achieved EMTCT Of HIV And Syphilis

Elimination can be defined as testing and treating at least 95 out of every 100 pregnant women. This also includes keeping new infant infections below 50 per 100,000 births, year after year.

"Denmark has met these benchmarks through strong antenatal care, reliable data systems, and respect for women's rights. We will support Denmark as it works toward full triple elimination, when it adds hepatitis B," said Dr. Hans Henri P. Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe.

"This validation by WHO is a proud moment for Denmark and the result of decades of work by our health-care professionals, midwives, and public health teams to ensure that every pregnant woman receives the screening and care she needs,” added Sophie Løhde, Minister for the Interior and Health, Denmark.

Denmark has low rates of HIV and syphilis among pregnant women. While 5,950 people are living in the country with HIV, less than 0.1 percent of pregnant women are affected. With regular testing and treatment, mother-to-child transmission was reduced to zero.

Further, the systematic prenatal screening and care also reduced the cases of congenital syphilis (syphilis passed from mother to baby). In 2024, the country reported 626 cases of syphilis, more in men (524) than in women (102).

The country is now on track towards validating hepatitis B virus elimination.

The prevalence of chronic hepatitis B infection in Denmark is estimated at around 0.2–0.3 percent, mainly among migrants from endemic regions.

In October 2025, the Maldives became the first country in the world to achieve ‘triple elimination’ of mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B, HIV, and syphilis. The country had achieved WHO validation for EMTCT of HIV and syphilis in 2019.

Global Prevalence Of HIV And syphilis

Globally, more than 39 million people were living with HIV in 2022, and over 20 million cases of syphilis were reported among women of childbearing age by 2021.

Syphilis sores create entry points for HIV, while HIV can accelerate syphilis progression.

While syphilis is curable with antibiotics, HIV is manageable but not curable.

The sexually transmitted infections are also increasing in prevalence worldwide.

More than 1 million curable STIs are acquired every day worldwide in people 15–49 years old, the majority of which are asymptomatic.

STIs have a direct impact on sexual and reproductive health through stigmatization, infertility, cancers, and pregnancy complications, and can increase the risk of HIV.