Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Is Ultrasound the Male Contraceptive Holy Grail?

Filed under: Reproductive Medicine

Finally men everywhere might have a birth control option that won't rob them of the joys of living (please see Welcome to Flaccid City. Population: You). Scientists at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill may have discovered a cheap, convenient and non-invasive method of male birth control: ultrasound. The scientists believe that a single treatment can provide up to six months of infertility that is reversible.

The team has received a $100,000 Grand Challenges Explorations grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates foundation for their work. If the project pans out, this could have an incredible impact on global health. Ultrasound is low-cost, and is widely available in both developed and undeveloped nations. It should be noted that while this will theoretically prevent pregnancy, it will have no impact on the transmission of STIs.

Picture: Seminiferous tubule before (left) and after (right) ultrasound treatment

Read the press release here...

Male contraceptive flashbacks: All Plugged Up: Intra Vas Male Contraceptive,New Male Contraceptive Wipes Out Our Swimmers, Welcome to Flaccid City. Population: You