A new experimental trial could revolutionize male contraception.
The study, which has been underway in Melbourne, Australia, could lead to the world’s first “temporary vasectomy” through a breakthrough contraceptive implant for men, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.
“If it is successful, it could be an absolute game-changer, ensuring that contraception is a shared responsibility between couples,” Professor Nathan Lawrentschuk, a urologist and study leader, told the newspaper.
“There has never been an option like this for men, ever.”
The doctor was also baffled by the amount of volunteers signing up willy nilly for the trial near their willy. Men were more than willing to have their nether regions experimented on in such a revolutionary way.
“We have been amazed. We opened up recruitment for this just on social media and the demand was so high we had to close the website down after two days,” he said.
“I was just incredibly fascinated by that. We had hundreds of men doing the screening, and we had to close it down.”
Lawrentschuk is piloting something called the ADAM study, in which hydrogel is being injected into the vas deferens — tubes which transport sperm — to prevent the little swimmers from leaving the testes, according to the newspaper.
The procedure is also said to be minimally invasive and not even require a scalpel for snip-snip.
Although the trial size is starting off small, it could grow into something much more impressive.
Out of the countless volunteers — ranging from ages 18 to 70 — only 25 men who are mostly between 30 and 40 have been selected. So far, four have gotten the injection.
It’s going to take roughly three years of research to determine the effectiveness of the hydrogel to see if it succeeds as a lasting contraceptive for men.
Lawrentschuk noted that hydrogel “dissolves after two years” and that the procedure could be repeated as needed.
“We are confident it is very safe. I guess the biggest risk is that it doesn’t work,” he said. “But we are watching their semen analyses very regularly.”
The doctor also said that if the testicle test is proven effective, the procedure could take a huge burden off women as well.
“Some women after childbirth can’t have contraception for obvious reasons, but they may not want to have a child within a couple of years of having their previous one, and this would be a good option for them without them having to go on the pill,” Lawrentschuk said.
It’s also a huge way to prevent accidental pregnancies as well, he added.
If efficient, the sample size would grow to 50 participants and men from the US would also be selected.
But even if test subjects were to have a sudden change of heart after the experiment, Lawrentschuk says there are ways to work around the gel for conception.
“You could actually use various IVF techniques to extract sperm if somebody was desperate to have a child in that window when they were still theoretically not ejaculating any sperm,” he said.
