Thread: Will male contraceptive injections transform birth control?

"An injection called Vasalgel is furthest along in clinical trials and promises to revolutionise contraception. "This is a total game changer," says Aaron Hamlin, executive director of the Male Contraception Initiative.What is it and when will it be available?
It is a long-term, non-hormonal contraceptive injection that is administered via the scrotum. A polymer is injected into a man's vas deferens, blocking sperm from leaving the body with no impact on orgasm or ejaculation.
Following successful animal testing, human trials are expected to begin next year. If the results are as positive, Vasalgel could hit the US market as early as 2018.
Early testing has shown that the process is easily reversible – unlike a vasectomy – but further trials are needed to prove that it has the same effect in humans . . . "
http://www.theweek.co.uk/64227/will-...-birth-control

Personally I'd rather something non - reversible , it will avoid any nagging about reversals. Make the decision once and stick with it. Vasalgel does look useful for those involved in casual relationships and wanting insurance against an "accident" though.

I've never thought about this, but what is the volume of sperm (the mass, I guess) in the testicles before it is mixed with prostatic fluid from the prostate gland to make the semen ejaculate? And what happens to that volume of sperm when it doesn't get out of the testicles and just dies there? Does it rot? Does it get conveniently absorbed somehow? Any bad effect on these testicles, as time goes by, these healthy testicles that might be trying to make more sperm but are never vacated? Would guys here who have had vasectomies be able to answer this?

Originally Posted by Unboxxed

I've never thought about this, but what is the volume of sperm (the mass, I guess) in the testicles before it is mixed with prostatic fluid from the prostate gland to make the semen ejaculate? And what happens to that volume of sperm when it doesn't get out of the testicles and just dies there? Does it rot? Does it get conveniently absorbed somehow? Any bad effect on these testicles, as time goes by, these healthy testicles that might be trying to make more sperm but are never vacated? Would guys here who have had vasectomies be able to answer this?

I don't have the numbers, but the volume of sperm and transport fluid is very small compared to the ejaculate from the prostate. No worse than what is experienced by men with vasectomies.

Originally Posted by Unboxxed

I never thought about this, but what is the volume of sperm in the testicles before it is mixed with prostatic fluid from the prostate gland to make the semen ejaculate? And what happens to that volume of sperm when it doesn't get out of the testicles and just dies there? Does it rot? Does it get conveniently absorbed somehow? Any bad effect on these testicles, as time goes by, these healthy testicles that might be trying to make more sperm but are never vacated? Would guys here who have had vasectomies be able to answer this?

I haven't got a vasectomy, but I got curious about the physiology and dug into the subject a while ago ... Sperm makes up about 2 - 5 % of the average 'money shot,' which itself is about 3.5 millileters or two-thirds of a teaspoon. Your body's immune system is quite efficient at "recycling" dead sperm; it does so all the time, because a fair proportion of wigglers die before they get out of your balls and up into your vas deferens. They're 'cleaned up' by white blood cells in the epididymus, the ropy structure behind and below each testis. A "closed-ended" vasectomy blocks up both ends of the vas deferens, so that sperm can't get out of the epididymus; some men get pain and swelling in there, until the system "ramps up" to take on disposal of all of the sperm produced in the testes.

From an abstract of a 1992 medical article in the National Library of Medicine (NIH):

This study was done to determine if there was a difference in results when both vas ends were closed or when the prostatic end was closed and the testicular end left open. The author performed 6220 vasectomies between June 1, 1972 and June 1, 1992. The first series consisted of 3081 vasectomies in which both ends of the vas deferens were closed. The second series consisted of 3139 vasectomies in which the testicular end of the vas deferens was left open while the prostatic end only was closed. No portion of the vas was excised. Congestive epididymitis was diagnosed in 6% of cases utilizing closed-end vasectomy and 2% of cases where the open-end vasectomy was performed. Open-end vasectomy is recommended because the incidence of congestive epididymitis is reduced.

Now as for Vasalgel - it's not simply a plug. The Parsemus Foundation (who are doing the work to bring Vasalgel to market in the USA) claim that it's more like a filter; fluids can pass through it, but not spermatozoa, and the trapped wigglers will be taken care of by the immune system.

Hope this helps.

Originally Posted by Unboxxed

And what happens to that volume of sperm when it doesn't get out of the testicles and just dies there?

Presumably, the same thing that happens when you let it back up for a few days the natural way. People have been having vasectomies for ages, and no-ones balls have exploded from build-up yet.

No worries; as regardless of how effective it is in real life, no technology which transfers reproductive freedom to men will last long in the modern matriarchy.
Western governments work for women ; eventually either using it will be socially reprehensible or outright illegal for some contrived reason.

The great part of making it illegal is that there's always places in south america where you can get it done anyways. If people can go on sex vacations to places in South America, I can go there and get my sperm shooter turned off. And if it is really made illegal, I can still get a vasectomy.

Originally Posted by chiefbrownmonkey

The great part of making it illegal is that there's always places in south america where you can get it done anyways. If people can go on sex vacations to places in South America, I can go there and get my sperm shooter turned off. And if it is really made illegal, I can still get a vasectomy.

You aren't seeing the big picture. Turkey has suddenly realized that it's birth rate is insufficient to maintain it's population. the response from it's religious nut bag party in power was to make vasectomies illegal. The doctor is in violation if he performs it in Turkey and the Turkish man that goes elsewhere to get it is in violation as well. Never underestimate the lengths to which the government will go to oppress men if they need to keep the plantation going.

Originally Posted by Mikediver

You aren't seeing the big picture. Turkey has suddenly realized that it's birth rate is insufficient to maintain it's population. the response from it's religious nut bag party in power was to make vasectomies illegal. The doctor is in violation if he performs it in Turkey and the Turkish man that goes elsewhere to get it is in violation as well. Never underestimate the lengths to which the government will go to oppress men if they need to keep the plantation going.

I see the big picture in terms of keeping the plantation going. The thing that most people seem to ignore is that black markets have always existed and will always exist. The DMCA made lots of things illegal. But it doesn't seem to have changed much when it comes to the compromise of devices and content. I have always maintained that rules and laws are for good people and those who are worried about getting caught. the rest of us do as we please.

Sufficient oppression always results in violent backlash. Rather a dead lion than a live dog. Non-violence, kindness, empathy are over rated. I've found that out over my life time.

"A historic medical breakthrough is coming in a few years, the male birth control injection.Does this mean goodbye to the painful vasectomy and other methods?
The male birth control is called Vasalgel, a non-hormonal control alternative said to be the first male contraceptive approved by FDA since the condom.




The male birth control injection is reportedly expected to be released around 2018 to 2020 . . ."
http://www.franchiseherald.com/artic...th-control.htm

I'd take it.

I don't want children.

Merging this with your previous thread on Vasalgel, CPRA.

If you run a search on Vasalgel, you'll find ten different threads - not all of them are directly involved with the Vasalgel story, but that's the way it is.

Vasalgel has not been FDA-approved, regardless of what the Franchise Herald article said - not yet; it's still in animal testing. But I just took a look at the Parsemus Foundation web-site (they're the ones behind Vasalgel):

We want to get Vasalgel on the market as soon as possible, but all the proper efficacy and safety testing needs to be completed. Vasalgel is currently undergoing animal testing, product qualification and safety testing. Human trials are expected to start in 2016 (small trial) and 2017 (larger trials). If everything goes well and with enough public support, we hope to get Vasalgel on the market as early as 2018.

There are other lines of research in male contraception, including extracts from the Gendarussa plant (Justicia gendarussa) being developed in Indonesia, and another drug that bonds to a protein ("Eppin") on the spermatozoon's surface and inhibits it from swimming. And there's also India's version of Vasalgel, RISUG, which is still in clinical trials there.

A couple more links on the state of male contraception research:

The male Pill is coming - and it's going to change everything (The Telegraph, 18 Jun 2015)

Why Big Pharma won't touch the male pill (The Telegraph, 25 Nov 2014)

These new forms of male contraception - whether by a pill or by a poke - may level the playing field in the sexual arena, if they're permitted to come to market. They could eliminate the risk of an "Oops Pregnancy" for those men who use them. Of course, those who believe that "women's right to control their sexuality" includes a "right" to secure an "oops pregnancy" for cash and prizes, are going to fight this ... I just hope sanity wins, this time.

Originally Posted by Octavian

No worries; as regardless of how effective it is in real life, no technology which transfers reproductive freedom to men will last long in the modern matriarchy.
Western governments work for women ; eventually either using it will be socially reprehensible or outright illegal for some contrived reason.

I doubt they would even try to be subtle about it either. Their flawed logic will go something like this: "women have more to risk by getting pregnant - their bodies, their choice! men aren't allowed to decide what women want". Women online will be bitching about how their boyfriends' use of the birth control is deceptive and controlling. Won't take long for that attitude to catch on.

If it get out there, I want to try it, but not without extreme research and verification that it's 100 percent foolproof.

Originally Posted by BeijaFlor

Of course, those who believe that "women's right to control their sexuality" includes a "right" to secure an "oops pregnancy" for cash and prizes, are going to fight this ... I just hope sanity wins, this time.

Exactly what I was thinking, just caught your post after posting mine. I think that situation is basically guaranteed at this point.

Originally Posted by Nuggets

I doubt they would even try to be subtle about it either. Their flawed logic will go something like this: "women have more to risk by getting pregnant - their bodies, their choice! men aren't allowed to decide what women want". Women online will be bitching about how their boyfriends' use of the birth control is deceptive and controlling. Won't take long for that attitude to catch on.

If it get out there, I want to try it, but not without extreme research and verification that it's 100 percent foolproof.

It has already happened - this is from the article I linked above, "Why Big Pharma won't touch the male pill:"

In the 1970s, Brazilian endocrinologist Dr Elsimar Coutinho developed one of the first ever male pill prototypes. Made from all-natural cottonseed, it didn’t go down too well with pharmaceutical companies for obvious reasons (hardly a money-spinner if the local health shop can produce a no-frills version for half the price), but it also suffered social resistance. When launched at the 1974 World Health Conference in Budapest, religious groups voiced concern and feminists staged a boycott, storming Coutinho’s presentation and demanding that only women – not men – should be making choices about parenthood.

I fervently hope the decision-makers won't be swayed by that specious logic ... and I'm glad to note the Parsemus Foundation isn't Big Pharma ... but I don't have any jizz in the game.

Originally Posted by Nuggets

Women online will be bitching about how their boyfriends' use of the birth control is deceptive and controlling. Won't take long for that attitude to catch on.

As we all know, sex under false pretences is - wait for it - RAYYYYYYYPE!

Only on the man's part, of course.

Originally Posted by Mr Wombat

As we all know, sex under false pretences is - wait for it - RAYYYYYYYPE!

Only on the man's part, of course.

Rather then force individual women to suss out if a guy is 'on the plug', they'll just ban it. The law as it is already permits assignment of resource transfer regardless of genetic paternity, so showing your receipt of an illegal birth control product as a man won't mean jack in court.

Now, the way I see this going ; first they'll stonewall certification in Western nations. Men interested will just hop a plane to get the procedure, at which point the media will catch wind and decry the horror of men "avoiding their role" by getting plugged.

Eventually , the government -interested in both serving its treasuries and its female constituents- will simply ban the procedure, with the armies of manginae rallying with the women.