Latest News

New Cocktail-Inspired Male Birth Control Reversible, Effective
Friday, February 1, 2019 IST
New Cocktail-Inspired Male Birth Control Reversible, Effective

For decades, women have shouldered most of the burden of contraception. However, long-term use of female birth control pills could increase the risk for side-effects such as blood clots or breast cancer.

 
 

Chinese researchers have developed an experiment cocktail-inspired male birth control method that is long-lasting, effective and reversible.
 
For decades, women have shouldered most of the burden of contraception. However, long-term use of female birth control pills could increase the risk for side-effects such as blood clots or breast cancer.
 
Common forms of male contraception are either short-term (condoms) or long-term (vasectomy). However, condoms can fail and vasectomies, while effective, are not often reversible. 
 
Now, a team from the Nanchang University developed a new method that involves injecting four layers of materials into the vas deferens -- the duct in the male reproductive system that conveys sperm from the testicle to the urethra. 
 
The layers are injected sequentially, beginning from a hydrogel that forms a physical barrier to sperm; a gold nanoparticles, which heat up when irradiated with near-infrared light; an ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), a chemical that breaks down the hydrogel and also kills sperm; and finally, another layer of gold nanoparticles. 
 
The injected materials kept the rats from impregnating females for more than 2 months. 
 
However, when the researchers shone a near-infrared lamp on the rats for a few minutes, the layers mixed and dissolved, allowing the animals to produce offspring. 
 
"Inspired by cocktails, we designed a medium term (2-20 weeks) male contraceptive strategy. Through a sequential injection process of four reagents, physical clogging of the vas deferens and chemical inhibition of the sperm motility were realised simultaneously," said Xiaolei Wang from the University.
 
 

 
 

"The contraceptive period could be directly preset by adjusting the injection ratio of each reagent," Wang said.
 
The method, reported in the journal ACS Nano, was inspired from cocktails, such as the Galaxy, that bartenders make by layering colourful liquids in a glass. 
 
If the beverage is stirred or heated, the layers combine into a uniform liquid. 
 
Similarly, applying heat would cause the injected layers of materials to mix, breaking them down and "unplugging the pipeline", Wang noted.
 
While previous attempts to create a male pill have resulted in side effects such as liver damage or low sex drive, the researchers say that this pilot experiment is promising. However, more research is needed to verify the safety of the materials.

 
 
 
 
 

Related Topics

 
 
 

Trending News & Articles

 Article
12 Early Signs Of Lung Cancer To Never Ignore

Lung cancer is usually not noticeable during the early stages. Most people are diagnosed when the disease is at an advanced stage. According to Cancer.org, it is ...

Recently posted . 7K views . 2 min read
 

 Article
11 Surprising Benefits Of Wood Apple Or Bael Fruit

The health benefits of wood apple include [1] relief from constipation, indigestion, peptic ulcer, piles, respiratory problems, diarrhea, and dysentery. It also b...

Recently posted . 5K views . 2 min read
 

 Article
10 Amazing Benefits Of Bael (Kaitha)

Bael, also known as the “Wood Apple”, is a species native to India. The bael tree is considered to be sacred to the Hindus. A famous drink known as sh...

Recently posted . 5K views . 2 min read
 

 Article
These 7 Remedies Can Remove The Milia (Milk Spots) From Your Face

Do you know what milia are? Milia is a skin condition which causes the appearance of small white hard bumps on the skin which usually appear on the face, neck or ch...

Recently posted . 4K views . 2 min read
 

 
 

More in Food & Health

 Article
Health benefits of jowar

Jowar is rated among the top five healthy grains in the world. Jowar also known as sorghum in English has lately become the ‘new quinoa’ due to its glut...

Recently posted. 1K views . 1 min read
 

 Article
You may suffer from heart trouble if you have high thyroid hormone levels

Thyroid hormone measurement can help identify individuals at risk for atherosclerosis that restricts blood flow, causing heart diseases. People with high...

Recently posted. 1K views . 14 min read
 

 Article
Why Am I Always Tired?

If you’re experiencing sluggishness and exhaustion for most parts of the day and it’s persistent, you may be asking yourself the question, why am I alwa...

Recently posted. 833 views . 2 min read
 

 Photo
Top 10 Unusual Facts About Taste



Recently posted . 1K views
 

 Reviews
Top 5 Best Window AC in India



Recently posted . 1K views . 62 min read
 

 Article
Does Canned Food Really Deserve a Bad Rap?

Let's face it: Some canned vegetables are so very different from their fresh forms (think: asparagus and beets!) that plenty of kids grow up swearing off otherw...

Recently posted. 1K views . 1 min read
 

 Article
CSE Names And Shames Multinational Fast Food Giants For 'Double Standards' in Antibiotics Use

New Delhi: Food at your favourite multinational fast food giant like McDonald’s, Taco Bell or Domino’s are probably a lot safer in the United States and...

Recently posted. 833 views . 1 min read
 

 
 
 

   Prashnavali

  Thought of the Day

“My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style.”
Anonymous

Be the first one to comment on this story

Close
Post Comment
Shibu Chandran
2 hours ago

Serving political interests in another person's illness is the lowest form of human value. A 70+ y old lady has cancer.

November 28, 2016 05:00 IST
Shibu Chandran
2 hours ago

Serving political interests in another person's illness is the lowest form of human value. A 70+ y old lady has cancer.

November 28, 2016 05:00 IST
Shibu Chandran
2 hours ago

Serving political interests in another person's illness is the lowest form of human value. A 70+ y old lady has cancer.

November 28, 2016 05:00 IST
Shibu Chandran
2 hours ago

Serving political interests in another person's illness is the lowest form of human value. A 70+ y old lady has cancer.

November 28, 2016 05:00 IST


ads
Back To Top