By Alexa Lardieri , Staff Writer, US News A CONTRACEPTIVE PILL for men is a step closer to approval after early trials of a once-daily pill showed it to be safe and effective, according to researchers. The new pill, known as DMAU for its chemical name, dimethandrolone undecanoate, is similar to the female birth control pill. It contains a combination of hormones – an androgen, like testosterone, and progestin – said the study's senior investigator, Dr. Stephanie Page, a professor of medicine at the University of Washington. Taken daily, it could bring sperm count low enough so a man cannot get his partner pregnant. "DMAU is a major step forward in the development of a once-daily 'male pill,'" Page said at the Endocrine Society's annual conference. "Many men say they would prefer a daily pill as a reversible contraceptive, rather than long-acting injections or topical gels, which are also in development." Developmen