I don't know about that.
A lot of young single men today really need a reliable contraception method they themselves can be in complete control of so that they can protect them from 18 years of child support.
Posted on 01/31/2005 6:59:46 PM PST by Ellesu
VANCOUVER (CP) -- A private American company hopes to revolutionize birth control by launching the world's first implantable male contraceptive.
Dr. Neil Pollock, co-founder of Shepherd Medical Company, told a news conference Monday that the Intra Vas Device, or IVD, is less invasive than a vasectomy but just as effective.
"We feel that we have the potential to make a huge impact on the future of contraception in the world," said Pollock, co-founder of the company, as he showed off the 2.5-centimetre hollow silicone plug.
Men have limited options when it comes to contraception and the IVD would shift the burden of birth control from women to men, he said.
Pollock presented slides showing the insertion of the IVD into a man's vas deferens tubes, which transport sperm to the penis.
Several clinical trials on rats, primates and humans have shown that the IVD effectively stops the flow of sperm, said Pollock, who's from Vancouver.
Normal sperm flow would resume after the device is removed, he said, compared to reversing a vasectomy, which lowers the chance of pregnancy to about 60 per cent.
Pollock, who specializes in performing vasectomies, said the IVD would be implanted in about seven minutes as an outpatient procedure under local anesthetic at a cost of $1,000 US.
A $1.4-million US grant from the National Institutes of Health in the U.S. has paved the way for a further study on humans in Seattle later this year, pending approval from the Food and Drug Administration of modifications to the IVD.
The company hopes to have the device on the market in 2007.
"The European market we're thinking of entering first, with England being a good choice," Pollock said, adding stricter regulations in Canada and the United States would mean the North American launch could happen a year later.
Research teams in several countries have embarked on the journey to produce a male contraceptive since the birth control pill for women was introduced about five decades ago.
Dr. Timothy Rowe, director of the Centre for Reproductive Health at the University of British Columbia, said the burden of responsibility isn't about to shift to men with the advent of any new male contraceptive.
"Men are more squeamish than women about these things so you've got a tough sell," said Rowe, who edited a section on the future developments in contraception for the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Canada last year.
He said the IVD was not on the list of contraceptives.
"You've got to convince guys that they want to do this," Rowe said, adding men "don't want anyone mucking around down there.
"You'd have to be so confident that this thing is not going to cause any pain, it's not going to affect their sex life, it's not going to have any harmful effects."
Women are much more tuned in to knowing about contraceptives, and unless men take responsibility for birth control, they don't represent a viable target group for the IVD, Rowe said.
However, the fact that men are so limited in their choice of contraceptives means some could opt for the device because they're even more squeamish about having a vasectomy, he said.
The IVD would not be a good replacement for condoms among men who have multiple partners and put themselves at risk for contracting sexually transmitted diseases, Rowe said.
Until men are the ones that get pregnant, there is NO WAY IN HELL that any contraceptive (other than rubbers) will ever be embraced by males.
Ohh and before female freepers bitch about that fact, just remember, you get the kids in a divorce.
Actually if they would just implant an ampule with a shock sensitive explosive (like nitroglycerin) in the scrotums of some men, I guarantee they won't reproduce.
You sound like a very angry female.
"You sound like a very angry female."
Read my profile. I am just a smart alec, but realistic, 50 year old man, that realizes some "men" can't keep their zippers closed.
Sorry... I'm of the mind that thy've gotta spread their legs first before any male zippers cum into play....
I don't know about that.
A lot of young single men today really need a reliable contraception method they themselves can be in complete control of so that they can protect them from 18 years of child support.
That's kind of crude....
Touche'
Here ya go.... It's worked for me for 20 years.
Sometimes crude is the quickest path to truth.
Bill Clinton has just anounced he is going to move to Seattle later this year. "I can't wait to test this out!" he was quoted recently. "The 60's were fun, but this is too good to pass up".
BTW, is it any cruder than an ampule of nitroglycerin injected into the scrotum? I don't think so.
"Sorry... I'm of the mind that thy've gotta spread their legs first before any male zippers cum into play...."
Indeed, it does take two to tango....I'm going to ignore the pun. :-)
Cool !
Sorry I offended. Sometimes I just get plainspoken to a fault.
Now I'm thinking of applying for a US Grant. Maybe I could get 1.4 million to develop this birth control device.
How about an ultralight weight high tech chastity belt for my teenage daughter with built in parental digital locking controls and GPS electronic cellphone tampering notification plus a patented stun gun emergence penetration deterrent system.
Now that will stop unwanted teenage pregnancies.
When her date arrives at the door, I'll just take him aside and hand him this warning card.
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