Sperm and Eggs Will Not Be Able to Meet if This Compound Is

Experts at the University of California, Berkeley, have discovered a new plant-derived compound that can prevent sperm and eggs from meeting. This may be a miraculous, safe and effective contraceptive in the future.

Key Facts About Sperm

The chemical compound that extracts pristimerin triterpenoids and lupeol will prevent the production of progesterone hormone when sperm reaches the egg, causing the sperm's calcium channel (called CatSper) to not work.

According to experts, this compound can prevent sperm naturally and only requires a very small amount, lower than the amount of levonorgestrel in emergency contraceptive Plan B 10 times. Therefore, compared to emergency contraceptives, they are considered as a more natural, safe and effective method of contraception.

These two chemical compounds only focus on blocking the CatSper mechanism, meaning that they only affect sperm, not on steroid or hormones. This advantage does not cause side effects such as blood clots that often occur if using normal birth control pills.

Currently, the National Academy of Sciences is studying to be able to synthesize pristimerin and lupeol compounds into a new generation of emergency contraception.