Vasectomies are on the rise, but not all men are ready to commit to permanent birth control.
Contraline, an American biotechnology company, is currently testing a new type of male contraceptive similar to vasectomy but fully reversible. On Thursday, Australian surgeons announced they had successfully performed the procedure on 23 men in an early-stage study.
This method uses a soft, water-based substance called hydrogel that is injected into the vas deferens. According to the company, the gel reduced the number of motile sperm by more than 99% within 30 days of insertion. No serious side effects have been reported so far.
According to Contraline CEO Kevin Eisenfrats, it’s like an IUD, but for men. “There are currently no long-term, reversible options for men,” Eisenfrats said. “It’s for people who aren’t ready to have children, who are trying to delay having another child, or who don’t want to have more children but aren’t ready for a permanent option.”
During a vasectomy, the vas deferens that exit both testicles are closed through small incisions in the skin. After a vasectomy, sperm cannot exit the testicles and there are no more sperm in the fluid secreted in the ejaculate.
The Contraline method involves making a small hole in the testicle with a syringe and pushing the hydrogel through a catheter connected to the vas deferens.
The men in the study were aged between 25 and 65 and were placed in two groups that received different amounts of hydrogel. The insertion of the gel took approximately 20 minutes (similar to a vasectomy) and was performed under local anesthesia unless the patient required general anesthesia.
According to Eisenfrats, the results are similar to those of a vasectomy. “We can see that it works,” he told her.
The purpose of the present study is to monitor the safety and durability of the gel, not its contraceptive effect. The current subjects will be followed for two years to see how long it takes for the gel to wear off. According to Eisenfrats, the goal is a one- to two-year product.
2024-01-07 09:14:00
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