Vas-occlusive contraception

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Vas-occlusive contraception is a contraceptive method for men that involves preventing sperm from traveling down the vasa deferentia. Implementations include plugs, clips, valves, and other devices. They are experimental and not yet approved for general use.

[edit] Intra vas device

The intra vas device, analogous to the intrauterine device (IUD) for women, is meant to be a reversible alternative to a vasectomy. Vasectomies have a poor rate of successful reversal, involving microsurgery and costing thousands of dollars, and should be considered permanent. The device consists of a flexible, hollow silicone plug, about a millimetre in diameter, that is inserted into the vas deferens and blocks the flow of sperm from the testes to the seminal glands. The surgical procedure is said to be as involved as a vasectomy and takes about 20 minutes.

The first human trials for safety were approved by Ottawa in 2001. Early test in humans and clinical tests in monkeys showed that the devices worked to block sperm as effectively as vasectomies. As of 2005, human clinical trials are being performed to evaluate its effectiveness as a contraceptive. The device is being developed at the Shepherd Medical Company in Vancouver by Dr. Neil Pollock, a specialist in no-scalpel vasectomies. Shepherd Medical has received a 1.4 million dollar grant from the U.S. National Institutes of Health for the clinical trials. Other similar elastomer plug devices are being researched in China, using medical-grade polyurethane (MPU) and silicone rubber (MSR) injected as a liquid[1], and a pre-formed silicone rubber plug held in place by a single suture called the shug, investigated in the United States and Brazil since 1985.[2]

[edit] See also

• Reversible inhibition of sperm under guidance (RISUG)
• Male contraceptive
• Vasectomy
• Intrauterine device

[edit] External links

• U.S. Patent 6,513,528 
• Press release on Dr. Pollock's website
• Another article
• Birth control for men promising — has some extra details and information about current trials
• Reversible male implant may be future of contraception
• Birth control breakthrough — But will it hold mass appeal? (picture appears to be a mistake)

• Information about Chinese versions — using MPU medical-grade polyurethane, and MSR medical-grade silicone rubber
• Information about a silicone rubber version, the shug — anchored with a suture