 |
| Courtesy: Pixabay |
California National Primate Research Center reported positive results for a new injectable contraceptive Vasalgel in Rhesus monkeys for more than a year. The study was published on February 6, 2017 in Journal of Basic and Clinical Andrology.
California National Primate Research Center reported positive results for a new injectable contraceptive Vasalgel in Rhesus monkeys for more than a year. The study was published on February 6, 2017 in Journal of Basic and Clinical Andrology.
Male contraceptive options are the same since a century and limited to condoms, withdrawal or permanent sterilization. No reversible long acting option is currently available for men.
A recent article by Valerie Tarico, a psychologist revealed that most men are willing to try new contraceptive options and are always looking for better options to what currently is in the markets.
Vasalgel™, a high molecular weight polymer consisting of 25% styrene maleic acid (SMA) dissolved in dimethyl sulfoxide. It works by occluding the vas deferens. After injection, the SMA forms a hydrogel that is tissue adherent, blocking the lumen of the vas and is a barrier to the passage of sperms. Side effects are minor and similar to vasectomy surgery.
 |
| Courtesy: Parsemus Foundation |
It can be reversed by injecting sodium bicarbonate solution;
the paper is awaiting publication.
The study successfully documented that 16 Rhesus
monkeys injected with Vasalgel™ did not father any offspring after 2 year of mating.
Vasalgel was developed by Parsemus Foundation, a
non-profit organization based in Berkeley, California. It got the inspiration
from a polymer contraceptive called RISUG®, which is in advanced clinical
trials in India, but no product has hit the markets yet.
With successful animal studies, the foundation is
planning to launch human clinical studies in a year to explore the
effectiveness followed by studies on reversing the effects.
This reversible male contraceptive is a much-awaited
breakthrough in the world of male contraceptives. It has the potential to
change the population dynamic in the coming years.
It was listed at #5 on the 2016 Cracked list of science breakthrough.
