The arsenal of male contraceptive methods has remained virtually unchanged for over a century, being limited to condoms, interrupted intercourse, hot baths, and a permanent surgical procedure called vasectomy..

In the era of highly effective drugs and fantastic medical technologies, there is not a single long-term, sufficiently reliable and 100% reversible male contraceptive, according to Pannochka, an Internet publication for girls and women from 14 to 35 years old.. net The need for new methods of contraception for men is clear.

Polls in the West show that more than 50% of couples are interested in new contraceptives, while only 20% of respondents rely on current contraceptives..

Although scientific research in recent years has uncovered several potential targets for male contraception at once, no original products have appeared on the market.. It is mainly about the development of hormonal drugs.

Meanwhile, the vast majority of men say they would prefer non-hormonal drugs as a safer option.. They can be understood: quite recently, the results of a large scientific study were published abroad, revealing the catastrophic consequences of hormonal contraception..

Earlier this month, the BMC released promising findings from researchers using Vasalgel for temporary contraception in rhesus monkeys.. Recall: the effectiveness of injections of this polymer has already been confirmed in rabbits..

The results of the latest preclinical study in monkeys actually pave the way for an entirely new means of male contraception in humans..

Vasalgel - long-acting non-hormonal contraception.

Vasalgel is a high molecular weight polymer composed of styrene maleic anhydride (SMA) copolymer dissolved in dimethyl sulfoxide.

The polymer is injected directly into the vas deferens, blocking the passage of sperm during ejaculation and preventing fertilization.

It is a guided reversible sperm containment method (RISUG or RISUG). In an animal model (rabbits and monkeys), the contraceptive effect was completely reversed by washing out the polymer with an ordinary sodium bicarbonate solution.. Subsequently, sperm secretion was quickly restored..

Vasalgel will replenish the arsenal of doctors and veterinarians.

The aim of the latest preclinical study was to test the contraceptive effect of OSSPR in large animals that are anatomically close to humans.. At the same time, obvious advantages of the method for primates have been established - Vasalgel allows veterinarians to successfully control the population of monkey colonies.

For the experiment, 16 rhesus monkeys were injected with a polymer into the vas deferens. After a one-week recovery period, the experimental animals were returned to the females in conditions as close to natural as possible..

Males have been observed for at least one breeding season; 7 out of 16 monkeys continued to mate with females for two years after the procedure.

The authors report that not a single case of conception has been recorded..

Complications of the OSSPR procedure turned out to be minimal: in one case of incorrect administration, a sperm granuloma was formed. Histopathological analysis of one of the testicles removed after the procedure does not confirm the role of Vasalgel in the development of inflammatory reactions..

The procedure is well tolerated.

These results coincide with the positive conclusions of scientists who conducted experiments with OSSPR on rabbits.. In addition, the incidence of sperm granuloma after Vasalgel was lower than in a similar population after a previous vasectomy..

OSSPR is safer than vasectomy.

It's time to move on to the safety of a new method of male contraception.

“Although a vasectomy is a quick and reliable procedure, Vasalgel injections are more versatile.. We were impressed with how reliably this method worked on a case-by-case basis, ”said Angela Colagross-Schouten, veterinarian from the latest project..

OSSPR is less likely to cause complications than traditional vasectomy, the researcher says.. If you add to this the possibility of 100% return of fertility, you get an almost ideal method of contraception.. So far only for monkeys.

At the moment, the results of the study are satisfactory for everyone.. Veterinarians are going to use this product to control the birth of animals living in zoos and some natural areas.. Doctors come one step closer to future clinical trials of a unique method in humans.

The Parsemus Foundation (Berkeley, California), a non-profit organization that promotes the project and organizes research, is committed to providing reliable and cheap reversible contraception to all men on the planet..

To further finance the project, the Parsemus Foundation founded the Revolution Contraceptives venture fund and is looking for investors who are ready to invest in the study and refinement of an innovative contraceptive method..

medbe. ru.