The Male Pill: Case introduction

Welcome, to the case of the male pill. The aim of this case-based learning exercise is to research around and apply your knowledge of chemical structure and bonding and relate this to a pharmaceutical, specifically, the development of the male contraceptive pill. You may know some or many of the answers already, or you may have to do some further reading around the subject. You may be able to work out some parts by applying experiences that you’ve had or knowledge that you have in other areas. Following any discussion slides or slides where we ask you questions, there will be one or more slides which have some ideas or suggestions around the areas you should have been considering.

However, try and have a go at answering the questions before looking at these slides. Areas that we are going to be considering and looking at in this case are bonding in molecules and compounds, electronegativity and polarity, and solubility. Research into producing an effective male contraceptive pill has been ongoing for many years now. And major advances have been made resulting in several compounds and products now entering the clinical trial phase. In this case, we are going to be looking at the use of progesterone as one component of a male contraceptive pill. This case will focus on the chemistry behind the use of oral progesterone.

And we will not be covering the biological actions of progesterone and how it acts to suppress male fertility. However, if you are interested, there are lots of good articles on the developments of this male hormonal contraceptive. Some ideas and some links have been put here for you.