or should this not be available? NOW?

[feministefatale]

Why have I never heard of this!?

techcitement.com/culture/the-best-birth-control-in-the-world-is-for-men/#.UPlVdx2AC73


If I were going to describe the perfect contraceptive, it would go something like this: no babies, no latex, no daily pill to remember, no hormones to interfere with mood or sex drive, no negative health effects whatsoever, and 100 percent effectiveness. The funny thing is, something like that currently exists.

The procedure called RISUG in India (reversible inhibition of sperm under guidance) takes about 15 minutes with a doctor, is effective after about three days, and lasts for 10 or more 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 the polymer gel (called Vasalgel here in the US), pushes the vas deferens back inside, repeats the process for the other vas deferens, 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.

[ThedementedPenguin]

I have no idea. It's very interesting though

[TheFallenNinja]

Not a chance is some doctor sticking essentially Araldite near my nads.

[ResolutelyCheeky]

Ah, pinhole in the scrotum. That is why.

[OddBoots]

Provided tests show it to not to have unreasonable risk then yes, it should be an option now. I'm sure there are many who would be squeamish about it but there will be many who would find it ideal.

[Trills]

I thought that the title was you saying that you thought something should NOT be available - because it was a bad thing.

I don't think you get to decide what medical treatments should or should not be available based on having read about them on the internet.

[VisualiseAHorse]

Sounds good to me!

[lubeybooby]

sounds perfect and worth it for ten years protection.

[meditrina]

It's an idea that has been around for a while, and is unlikely to get much further because of the side-effects which caused India's Ministry of Health to abort clinical trials in 2002. But they have restarted, and perhaps the questions surrounding damage (from the (possibly carcinogenic) chemicals used) will be properly resolved.

[ConcreteElephant]

Feministe, you raise an interesting point for discussion but is it really necessary to aim personal insults at a man who posts in response to say that he personally wouldn't be keen on this method of contraception?

[MissyMooandherBeaverofSteel]

Feministe that is uncalled for. Thefallen didn't insult you or have any sort of dig, just offered an opinion.

As far as the contreception goes there must be some reason that it isn't available yet, I would be very interested in finding out more, it sounds ideal by whats written there.

[LetsFaceTheMusicAndDance]

Giving Feminism a good name are we, Feministe

[Tailtwister]

Why would you insult Thefallen for simply having an opinion Feministe?

I think it sounds very interesting and definitely worth finding out more about.

[TidyDancer]

Wow feministe! OTT much?! You owe thefallen an apology!

I don't really like the idea of this tbh, I'd rather take the pill.

[feministefatale]

LFTMAD I am a feminist, one of millions, I am not worried about giving feminism a bad name because only an idiot would think one person can speak for a group of millions. Or that my feeling men should expect to take on equal responsibility for contraception is giving feminism a bad name

I also think that if a man is prepared for his female partner to to take on all contraception risks and of course the risks of pregnancy and labor or abortion but not willing to take on the risk of a poke to the balls if it were proved safe that he isn't saying much for himself or his feelings for his partner.

[meditrina]

The reversibility in humans needs to be more fully established too.

[meditrina]

"not willing to take on the risk of a poke to the balls if it were proved safe that he isn't saying much for himself or his feelings for his partner"

It hasn't yet been proved safe.

[feministefatale]

yes, meditrina that's true. I do wonder if it would ever be relased even if it was the "perfect birthcontrol" as it really wouldn't be much of a cash cow would it compared to bc pills

[feministefatale]

No I said if it were

[LetsFaceTheMusicAndDance]

But why play to the stereotype?
And it just makes you sound rude and aggressive and not very bright tbh.
Which is a pity when you've raised such an interesting topic.

[maddening]

There was also a male injection I remember but that never caught on .

The only thing I would worry about is if it increases the chance of testicular cancer (no reason to suspect it does but that came to my mind) - has there been enough research/time in use to rule that sort of thing out?

[OTheYuleManatee]

Personally in a relatively new relationship I would rather take responsibility for my own fertility than rely on someone else's word. And if i'm in a committed long-term relationship I am likely to be planning ahead and thinking about children, so want something that is reversible without having to rinse Evo-Stik out of my husband's man-sausage.

Think I'll stick with my IUD, thanks

[LetsFaceTheMusicAndDance]

I have a DS who would jump at the chance to be 100% sure he and his girlfriend wouldn't have an unwanted pregnancy. He understands only too well what the consequences are and that other methods of contraception can fail. The only real options open to him as a bloke who wants to control his fertility are condoms and the word no.

[feministefatale]

But why play to the stereotype? And it just makes you sound rude and aggressive and not very bright tbh.

Hmm, I don't worry about stereotypes, and when I think of feminism in general, I see it as women who care about their place in society and are in fact usually very intelligent.

I see people who stereotype others as not very intelligent tbh,