Cheap male contraception?

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tylersr
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Joined: 18 Jul 2011, 22:49

Cheap male contraception?

Post by tylersr »

http://techcitement.com/culture/the-bes ... 3EJBo7Lg9R

"The procedure called RISUG (reversible inhibition of sperm under guidance) takes about 15 minutes with a doctor, is effective after about three days, and lasts for up to 10 years. A doctor applies some local anesthetic, makes a small pinhole in the base of the scrotum, reaches in with a pair of very thin forceps, and pulls out the small white vas deferens tube. Then, the doctor injects a polymer called Vasalgel, pushes the vas deferens back inside, puts a band aid over the small hole, and the man is on his way. If this all sounds incredibly simple and inexpensive, that’s because it is. The chemicals themselves cost less than the syringe used to administer them. But the science of what happens next is the really fascinating part.

The two common chemicals — styrene maleic anhydride and dimethyl sulfoxide — form a polymer that thickens over the next 72 hours, much like a pliable epoxy, but the purpose of these chemicals isn’t to harden and block the vas deferens. Instead, the polymer lines the wall of the vas deferens and allows sperm to flow freely down the middle (this prevents any pressure buildup), and because of the polymer’s pattern of negative/positive polarization, the sperm are torn apart through the polyelectrolytic effect. On a molecular level, it’s what supervillains envision will happen when they stick the good guy between two huge magnets and flip the switch.

...With one little injection, this non-toxic jelly will sit there for 10 years without you having to do anything else to not have babies. Set it and forget it. Oh, and when you do decide you want those babies, it only takes one other injection of water and baking soda to flush out the gel, and within two to three months, you’ve got all your healthy sperm again.

The trouble is, most people don’t even know this exists. And if men only need one super-cheap shot every 10 years, that’s not something that gets big pharmaceutical companies all fired up, because they’ll make zero money on it (even if it might have the side benefit of, you know, destroying HIV)."
Marlen
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Joined: 12 Jun 2011, 20:16
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Re: Cheap male contraception?

Post by Marlen »

That's quite a fascinating contraceptive procedure - we'll definitely require to do some research in order to make sure that all babies that are born are in fact able to taken proper care of by their parents. This seems like a cool way to do a vasectomy without having to cut the vas deferens.
Its effectiveness would have to be tested over time though, so - keeping track of any tests would be cool.
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