Female master creates contraceptive gel for men

This contraceptive gel is designed to form a barrier in the vas deferens and can be easily dissolved when the 'owner' wants to have a baby.

Illustration photo: REUTERS

The invention belongs to Kyla Raoult, who recently graduated with a master's degree from Stellenbosch University in South Africa.

According to IFLScience on December 17, during her time studying at Stellenbosch, Ms. Raoult demonstrated the potential of using hormone-free hydrogel technology to 'reverse' the movement of sperm through the vas deferens.

“The hydrogels are designed to stay in place until the patient wants to regain fertility,” explains Raoult. Hydrogels are 3D water-loving polymers that can swell in water without dissolving (for a short time), and are capable of absorbing thousands of times their dry weight in water.

Once injected, the gel is designed to form a semipermeable barrier inside the vas deferens in less than a minute. The pores inside the gel still allow semen to pass through but are too small for sperm to get through.

During the time the gel is in place, any sperm produced is absorbed back into the body, in the same way as after a vasectomy.

The big difference with a vasectomy is that the gel can be easily dissolved to reverse the process. “By simply injecting a solution into the gel to reverse the process, the chemical bonds in the gel are broken, turning the gel into a liquid that can be washed away,” says Raoult.

The polymers that make up the gel have been shown to be safe for the body, and the treatment does not alter hormone levels in any way. Dr Raoult hopes the method could eventually be performed easily and quickly in clinics.

“This technology could help men control their fertility without the common side effects of hormone-blocking drugs. They could then restore their fertility when they are ready to have children,” said Ms Raoult.

The female master invented the gel after being inspired to look for new contraceptive methods, as most current methods are for women.

More research is needed to determine exactly how long this contraceptive gel will be effective, and the research is still in its early stages. However, the need for male contraception is certainly there. A recent study in the journal Nature found that the number of vasectomies consultations and procedures has increased significantly in the United States.

So while the new research is promising, we'll still have to wait a while before we see a non-hormonal, reversible male contraceptive widely available.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/nu-thac-si-tao-ra-gel-tranh-thai-cho-nam-gioi-20241218162126105.htm