PROJECT

Clean Sheets
Pill

HUMAN HEALTH
PROJECT

Clean Sheets
Pill

HUMAN HEALTH

Project summary

Please note: This is an archived project that is not currently being updated.
The Clean Sheets Pill is an on-demand, non-hormonal contraceptive that works by blocking the release of sperm while still allowing ejaculation. It has the potential benefit of reducing transmission of HIV. Even though no semen is ejaculated — resulting in a “dry” orgasm. The research on the Clean Sheets Pill has ended due to a lack of funding. Should studies resume, we’ll provide an update.

Background

  • New male contraceptive concepts, including with hormonal and non-hormonal options, have been of interest to the public and research scientists for decades.
  • Blocking the release of sperm is an effective form of contraception, with vasectomy being a permanent option. Another method of blocking sperm is through vas occlusive methods. A novel concept involves action on the muscles in the tube that carry sperm has promise in early studies.

Key points

  • The Clean Sheets Pill is an on-demand, non-hormonal contraceptive that works by blocking the release of sperm while still allowing ejaculation. It has the potential benefit of reducing transmission of HIV.
  • This method works by causing the longitudinal muscles that run along the length of the duct system that carries sperm to relax, but allows the circular muscles of those tubes to contract and clamp down on the longitudinal muscles. This prevents the passage of both sperm and semen.
  • The semen remains in the tubes and is naturally recycled by the body. Even though no semen is ejaculated, the same muscles still contract – resulting in a “dry” orgasm.
  • The research on the Clean Sheets Pill has ended due to a lack of funding.

Parsemus' role

  • The Parsemus Foundation has helped to advocate for and fund a number of non-hormonal male contraceptive methods, including the Clean Sheets Pill.
The Project in Detail

Topics

  1. Contraception with protection from HIV
  2. Want to know more?

Contraception with protection from HIV

This quick-acting male contraceptive pill is exciting because of one feature: it could potentially reduce the male-to-partner transmission of HIV. But would men accept the mechanism of action — a semen-free orgasm — even if it feels exactly the same? Many policymakers say men would never go for this, and that there’s no point in bothering with the research. Are they right?

We’ve run a small attitudes study in the U.S. to start answering the question. The result? Among low- and moderate-income young men in the U.S., about 20% say “No way;” about 20% say “Yes, please, when can I get it!” and the rest say “It depends” on knowing more about safety, side effects, etc. That number of men who would consider it may not sound like much, but 20% is a higher percentage of men than use condoms! Another sign that people are interested: A TechCITEMENT article came out about the “clean sheets pill” in March 2012 and was viewed by more than half a million people. We thought it was at least worth giving this research a chance to prove its stuff.

The project has unfortunately stalled due to lack of funding for continued research — a common situation for many promising new male contraceptives.

Want to know more?

To read more about the Clean Sheets Pill and how it works, see Vasectomy.com. For more info on the team’s results, below is the poster presented at the Future of Contraception Initiative conference in Seattle in October 2011.

Click on the image to view a larger version

Related news

Study highlights growing demand for male contraceptives
swimming sperm image
Study highlights growing demand for male contraceptives

Study highlights growing demand for male contraceptives

January 6, 2025
Passing the Vasalgel torch
L.R. Fox of NEXT Life Sciences and Elaine Lissner of the Parsemus Foundation
Passing the Vasalgel torch

Passing the Vasalgel torch

July 8, 2024
Nonhormonal male birth control pill shows promise in early trials
YourChoice Therapeutics logo
Nonhormonal male birth control pill shows promise in early trials

Nonhormonal male birth control pill shows promise in early trials

May 1, 2024

What people  are saying

“Responsibility and right to decide - why shouldn't we explore new options when the methods available today match with the family planning ideals from the last century? You should be able to choose from a range of options, regardless of your gender or genitals.”

AlvaJune 2024

“There should be an easy condom-free way for men to ensure no offspring arrive.”

Zeez2014

“Traditional contraceptive options, meaning the ones for women, aren't suitable for me. So, I'm hoping that there would be something suitable for my partner.”

Joanna2014

“As a male, I want to take responsibility for my half of the procreation equation. Anyway condoms are awful.”

McKenzie

“Men need more options...moreover, women need men to have more options.”

April

“Things need to change for the male contraception industry. Being open to change is only the start. Humanity NEEDS more options.”

Jonathan

“Men should be able to take part in contraception without having to use a condom or getting a vasectomy.”

Peter

“Men should have more options than just condoms (which are not 100% safe) and vasectomy (which is irreversible). For women, there are many options (almost all have some side effects) and most of them are hormonal which require flushing hormones in blood streams.”

Shubhi

“Male contraceptives are a massively important step for the sexual safety of everyone.”

Justis

“Men need more contraceptive options. Contraception shouldn't be almost exclusively hormonal options for women.”

Alex

“It's vital to have more birth control options for men!”

Max

“Men need more options for contraception.”

Nicole

“I have had the responsibility and side effects of hormonal contraceptives for 17 years. My fiance and I would welcome an option that would allow him to take the responsibility for awhile and give me a break from the problems that the hormones cause for me.”

Julie

“As a millennial, it would be great to have a variety of options that put me in charge of my life instead of relying on female contraceptives or condoms that are not always safe.”

Andrew

“Using condoms is just the least evil for both partners. Male contraception could have significantly fewer side effects and could be much more precise and target-oriented than the pill for women.”

Jonas

“We're newly-wed but we don't think that we're fit to be parents yet. I'm only 23 and I think I need to grow up a couple of years before thinking about having a baby. So, instead of wearing condoms for the coming five years or so and feeling miserable about it, I want an effective solution that I can reverse in the future because I know one day we will think of having a baby and I do not want to put my partner at any risk by using hormonal pills. Current methods all focus on the woman and all have terrible side effects (my wife cannot use IUDs) and condoms are fine until you get sick of them during intercourse and just throw them away.”

Ahmed

“I am a woman and as a migraine sufferer, my contraceptive choices are limited to IUDs or progestin-only pills. Since I experience unwanted side effects with these, we rely on condoms. A longer-term "no-worry" solution would be much preferred.¬† It would be worth the cost as opposed to an unwanted pregnancy!”

Sara DMarried, no kids

“I want control of my fertility that is safe, convenient to use and totally effective. That way I can be in control of my life rather than putting it in the hands of women and government agencies.”

S. Gee

“I would like the opportunity to be more intimate with my partner and condoms bar that, beyond the conventional 'doesn't feel as good' argument. However, I am extremely concerned about the failure rates of the Pill due to human error and would like to take some responsibility for my future finances into my own hands without being abstinent.”

New college graduateAge 22

“Condoms are a nice method; however I have a 3-year-old that proves they are not 100% effective!”

Frank B.Father of 3, age 27

“I do not wish to further my genetic line due to a severe bleeder's disease, which also makes normal vasectomy a no-go.”

Anonymous

“I provide family planning services to young people in Southern California and would love to have more to offer the young men who come in (and their partners) much more than condoms or permanent vasectomy. I speak from the front lines that most of my clients know about condoms and are NOT using them as much as we would like.”

Kristel DNurse Practitioner

“As a male I would not take any contraceptive that altered my hormonal balance. And the idea of getting a MONTHLY injection - are you crazy??? This is probably why surveys come back saying there's limited interest in male contraceptives - given that sort of choice, I'm not interested either!”

Terry S.

“Having control over when I have children is the foremost thing in my life. I place great value on having freedom of choice and freedom from worry. Also, being a person with not much money living in a third world country, a cheap contraceptive is imperative.”

Anonymous