Contraception Trial... for those interested...

[Barry]

Seems to beat the scapel and provides an alternative to the missus taking the pill...

Male contraception is a tricky thing. Males are generally very hesitant to mess around with their testosterone levels (unless it reverses male pattern baldness), so hormonal treatments aren't likely to be popular. The only surgical technique in use, the vasectomy, is not always reversible, so it carries the risk of a permanent commitment to contraceiving. Right now, there are lots of other ideas, but no products aside from condoms. So, I was surprised to come across a press release indicating that a clinical trial for a male contraceptive is in the works in India.

The technique being tested is RISUG, for Reversible Inhibition of Sperm Under Guidance. The idea is that a simple injection places chemicals along the pathway that sperm take out of the body, where they can form a gel. That gel will last for 10-15 years, during which time it both reduces the number of sperm making the trip, and physically disables the ones that do make it past. The great thing is that re-injecting a chemical will dissolve the gel and completely reverse the process. The trial was actually started back in 2002, but some of the test subjects had testicular swelling. After ensuring that this was not painful and did not result in any permanent damage, new subjects are being enrolled and the trial's ramping back up. If this is successful, it sounds like a great product to have around.

http://www.malecontraceptives.org/methods/risug.php

[bronny-jane]

hope it does become available, so tired of getting knocked up by dh , now its some one else's turn , just kidding.

why havent they tried to reverse it yet?

[PMS]

Sounds like something my hubby should look into! He keeps avoiding the "vasectomy" conversation. So since I'm not going back on the pill it will either be rubbers or abstinence!

[bronny-jane]

So since I'm not going back on the pill it will either be rubbers or abstinence!

good luck with that that was our contraception now im due in september

[PMS]

Hmmmm............. maybe I will show him this thread when he gets home. He doesnt want any more children this might help get his butt into gear!

[Beany]

The clinical trials that were conducted have been questioned for the thoroughness.

While most sources agree that it is an effective contraceptive measure, there are risks of toxicity and cancer that have not been tested to international standards. Also, the solvent (dimethyl sulfoxide) that is used for the injection is known to cause kidney damage.

All in all, a scalpel still seems a better bet.

[Barry]

The clinical trials that were conducted have been questioned for the thoroughness.

New ones are ramping up now. Like everything (asides for treatments which cause third arms to grow) there's several levels of testing.

[Beany]

Hey it it caused the growth of a third arm, *I* might give it a shot.