Major
Neuroscience
Anticipated Graduation Year
2024
Access Type
Open Access
Abstract
ADAM is a newly invented, non-hormonal form of male birth control that is projected to be FDA approved and widely available in 2027. This project seeks to examine the science of how ADAM, and its precursor RISUG, work, alongside the social and ethical implications of a widely available method of male birth control. We will discuss the unique composition of ADAM and RISUG and how it maintains azoospermia or oligospermia in men. Then, we will discuss the social and ethical implications of having a widely-available, long-term male birth control, including its effects on male reproductive autonomy, gendered implications, and what it could mean in a post-Roe society. We believe that these non-hormonal male contraception techniques are a step above other male contraception options and have the potential to make the burden of contraception more equitable due to their unique ability to provide protection for an extended period of time, have no serious side effects, and be easily reversible.
Faculty Mentors & Instructors
Dr. Jennifer Parks and Dr. Dawn Franks
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 License.
Balancing the Scales: Investigating the Potential Impact of RISUG and ADAM as Novel Male Birth Control Methods
ADAM is a newly invented, non-hormonal form of male birth control that is projected to be FDA approved and widely available in 2027. This project seeks to examine the science of how ADAM, and its precursor RISUG, work, alongside the social and ethical implications of a widely available method of male birth control. We will discuss the unique composition of ADAM and RISUG and how it maintains azoospermia or oligospermia in men. Then, we will discuss the social and ethical implications of having a widely-available, long-term male birth control, including its effects on male reproductive autonomy, gendered implications, and what it could mean in a post-Roe society. We believe that these non-hormonal male contraception techniques are a step above other male contraception options and have the potential to make the burden of contraception more equitable due to their unique ability to provide protection for an extended period of time, have no serious side effects, and be easily reversible.