Mangoes might hold the secret to hormone-free unisex birth control

As it turns out, mangoes are much more than just the delicious orange-coloured fruit you can eat at Thai restaurants with sticky rice or frozen in your smoothies. In fact, mangoes might even have a role to play where you’d least expect it: in the bedroom.

Apparently the fruit carries the secret to the future of contraception. A future where the pill can be used by both men and women, and has no effect on your hormones.

A group of researchers based in California have been investigating gender-neutral birth control options. And they discovered that mangoes and some other plants contain two important substances called lupeol and pristimerin.

Taken together, the substances can block sperm from fertilising an egg. And mangoes aren’t the only fruits that could save us from using hormone treatments. Olives and grapes also contain these substances.

100% natural contraception – According to their study published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, these substances act as a sort of « molecular condom » and can be used by both men and women.To put it simply, when combined, lupeol and pristimerin create a natural barrier between the sperm and the egg. In addition, because they are all-natural, the substances don’t have any long-term effects on fertility. And they don’t need to be taken every day at specific times.

Speaking to the Independent, one of the scientists explained: “If one can use a plant-derived, non-toxic, non-hormonal compound in lesser concentration to prevent fertilisation in the first place, it could potentially be a better option. »

Source: Konbini

Photo by HOTCHICKSING on Unsplash