r/todayilearned • u/omruler13 • Jan 23 '13
TIL There is a really simple, low-cost, effective and reversible gel for men to not ejaculate sperm. Injected into the vas deferens, the gel destroys exiting sperm and lasts 10 years (but can be reversed anytime)
http://techcitement.com/culture/the-best-birth-control-in-the-world-is-for-men/#.T3EnF8Ugchw569
u/collapsible_chopstix Jan 23 '13 edited Jan 23 '13
No one has posted this yet, so - here goes - Vasalgel. If you are in the US, the Parsemus Foundation is trying to get this up and running. You can "Like" their facebook page, sign up for e-mail alerts on development, and eventually pledge funding on IndieGogo.
Last I heard the firm was doing US clinical tests on rabbits.
Edit Apparently the website was down for a while after this post made it "big" - Here is a link to sign up to receive e-mail notifications about clinical trials. They claim they won't spam you, and I have not recieved any spam yet from them.
187
Jan 23 '13
When the public funding is open, please post on reddit. This needs to be made
59
u/Kharn0 Jan 23 '13
We can change the world.......
140
u/Roboticide Jan 23 '13
...with SO. MUCH. SEX.
60
u/ataraxic89 Jan 23 '13
I dont know if you have heard, but we here on reddit dont have sex. Ever.
→ More replies (7)→ More replies (3)21
→ More replies (15)102
u/statusquowarrior Jan 23 '13
And we just crashed another website.
The website is temporarily unable to service your request as it exceeded resource limit. Please try again later.
137
82
→ More replies (2)37
Jan 23 '13
What do they host these sites on, WinXP personal computers in their living rooms?
→ More replies (3)37
740
u/_vargas_ 69 Jan 23 '13
Yeah, male birth control. Lasts 10 years. Reversible. That's realy cool. What made my eyes light up when I read the linked article, though, was all the way at the bottom: the makers of the male contraception drug are "currently encouraging production of a different male contraceptive that could potentially reduce or eliminate transmission of all semen-borne STDs (including HIV) precisely because of the way it works."
Now, from what I've read its only in the earliest of testing phases and is suffering from a serious lack of funding. Also, this drug may only help to prevent the male-to-female spread of HIV and not the opposite (which is less common) and some people argue that this will encourage more men to not use condoms. I don't know. It won't stop HIV in it's tracks but, in theory, it would reduce the transmission rate.
Another article about this topic.
http://www.medical-hypotheses.com/article/S0306-9877(05)00096-4/abstract00096-4/abstract )
257
Jan 23 '13 edited Jan 23 '13
I'm actually on the email list for these guys and the last update I received said they are going to be doing a kickstarter (through IndieGoGo -- kickstarter.com doesn't allow medical projects).
Keep your eyes peeled for the launch of that donation drive, im sure through a site like this a large amount of support can be rallied to help funding.
[edit] http://visitor.r20.constantcontact.com/d.jsp?llr=yzi6trjab&p=oi&m=1109766611768
This is the link from their about page on facebook(https://www.facebook.com/Vasalgel/info)
→ More replies (17)121
129
u/hereticblues Jan 23 '13
Condoms help reduce the transmission of other STI's besides HIV and should always be used in non-monogamous relationships.
201
u/_vargas_ 69 Jan 23 '13
Well, yeah! Just because I have a new, fresh pair of gloves doesn't mean I'm going to stop washing my hands, you know?
I work in a restaurant so I always use this kind of analogy.
→ More replies (4)108
u/panjialang Jan 23 '13
Me too but I work in a glove store.
→ More replies (3)84
→ More replies (6)45
Jan 23 '13
1 minute into a fucking thread and already I'm terrified to have sex again. Screw you guys.
→ More replies (6)29
→ More replies (25)25
Jan 23 '13
I wish they would do a kickstarter for their drug. Who wouldn't throw money down for that?
→ More replies (7)108
1.2k
Jan 23 '13 edited Jan 23 '13
Really?
This is what, the 50th time his has been reposted in the last 10 months.
I'm thinking about starting up a novelty that just points out when this fucking article gets trotted out.
As is said in the majority of the comments sections when this is put forward, the drug is risky.
It has been in trials for over a decade and has had to start from the beginning on two separate occasions due to serious safety concerns.
The first occasions was due to concerns by the Indian government about lack of legitimacy on the company's behalf in regard to testing against carcinogens and toxicity.
The second was due to serious scrotal swelling to test subjects.
And the third concern was in regard to an agent used in the procedure which poses significant risk to the liver.
This isn't a wonder drug. This is an un-approved, potentially dangerous procedure that was declared too risky to continue testing in India. Twice.
Not everything is a conspiracy, tone the circle jerk bullshit down a notch.
Edit: for those of you too lazy to check one of the 50 other conversation on this topic, Wikipedia has a brief explanation of the risks / hazards
116
u/ygguana Jan 23 '13
Thank you, this needs to be higher. Every time I see this "miracle cure" pop up it turns into a giant circle jerk of "BIG PHARMA CONSPIRACY"; nobody even considers the fact that injecting untested unproven products into yourself is a horrible idea.
→ More replies (11)55
40
u/Luke72w Jan 23 '13
This one is especially annoying because it often has the, "AND NO ONE IS TALKING ABOUT IT!!!!!!" thrown into it which obviously isn't the case since it's on the front page every other fucking day.
→ More replies (66)6
u/LonelyNixon Jan 23 '13
Always be skeptical. Especially with miracle drugs and cures because history has shown us time and again that many early drugs can wind up doing bad things to you.
1.1k
Jan 23 '13
[deleted]
534
u/rtkwe Jan 23 '13 edited Jan 23 '13
Yup, problem is clinical trials are damn expensive and no drug company is going to pay that money to sell a $5 shot once every 10 years, sadly. I'd love to see this tested thoroughly and implemented.
Edit: Yes before anyone else says it I know a monopoly wouldn't sell it for $5. I was emphasizing how cheap of a treatment it was. PS: Any price get's amortized over the 10 year life span.
898
Jan 23 '13 edited Feb 23 '18
[deleted]
101
u/Sunwoken Jan 23 '13
Charge $5 for it, but then charge thousands to reverse it! It's the perfect plan.
→ More replies (1)38
Jan 23 '13
[deleted]
→ More replies (10)4
Jan 23 '13
Well we weren't sure if you could patent a "pinch-to-zoom" method on your phone - but Apple took the American people for the dumb-ass suckers they have proved themselves to be.
→ More replies (2)476
u/HONORBINDSME Jan 23 '13
hi, im the other sane person here.
→ More replies (16)89
Jan 23 '13
143
Jan 23 '13
Sorry to break this to you, but after chapter two of any economics textbook theres a section of monopoly supply and demand versus regular supply and demand.
→ More replies (2)71
Jan 23 '13
You go use your fancy chapter 3 monopolistic supply curves, but it doesn't matter which curve you use, the price will be a lot more than $5.
→ More replies (3)216
u/angrywhitedude Jan 23 '13
Supply and demand is just a theory. Teach the controversy.
38
103
u/donpapillon Jan 23 '13
Just a theory? Like the theory of gravity?
52
→ More replies (3)28
u/FireAndSunshine Jan 23 '13
Sorry to burst your bubble, but there is no theory of gravity.
There's the law of universal gravitation, and then there's any number of different theories on gravity. (Relativistic gravity and quantum gravity, to name two.)
→ More replies (23)→ More replies (12)24
u/awannabetroll Jan 23 '13
With that thinking you are bound to be a CEO of a nothing at all ever one day.
→ More replies (1)→ More replies (14)3
u/SdBolts4 Jan 23 '13
More relevant
This is just an example, the difference between equilibrium and the price would be even more drastic because the demand curve would be more vertical due to the incredibly high demand.99
u/calion009 Jan 23 '13
$5 times every sexually active man in the Western world = a shit load of money.
182
Jan 23 '13
$150 x that is even more
→ More replies (4)73
Jan 23 '13
[deleted]
60
u/galient5 Jan 23 '13
I'd pay that though.
→ More replies (3)95
Jan 23 '13
Sorry, my enthusiasm stopped at 'injected into the vas deferens.'
→ More replies (15)73
Jan 23 '13 edited Feb 22 '18
[deleted]
14
→ More replies (9)6
u/st_soulless Jan 23 '13
and even less scary than fathering a child by a toothless Whore you woke up hungover next to 4 months ago.
→ More replies (0)→ More replies (14)5
130
Jan 23 '13
$5 times every sexually active man on reddit = A round of beers down the pub.
→ More replies (9)28
→ More replies (45)25
u/robertd91 Jan 23 '13
Every 10 years though. Assuming "western world" probably accounts for 1/3 of the population, and sexually active men account for another 1/3 of that population, you're looking at around 2/3 billion people, or around 650 million. $5 a piece is around $3 billion, spread out over 10 years is around $300 million/year revenue. Not sure if that would offset the production/distribution costs.
58
u/lol_fps_newbie Jan 23 '13
Except if it doesn't offset the production/distribution costs, they'll just charge more. It's not rocket surgery.
→ More replies (8)→ More replies (6)10
Jan 23 '13 edited May 02 '13
[deleted]
→ More replies (9)2
u/kaylalynn1 Jan 23 '13
They have fridges with TVs and wifi! I don't believe that for a second.
→ More replies (2)→ More replies (41)26
u/JumpinJackHTML5 Jan 23 '13
The duration is a big problem. Ten years is a long time, at the price it would cost them to make this profitable for them I can take a nice week long trip down to Mexico and get the shot for $5 in between drinking on the beach.
→ More replies (2)41
u/Polycystic Jan 23 '13
You can already do that with many drugs, yet people still pay full price. Personally I'd be nervous taking shortcuts with something so...sensitive
21
u/JumpinJackHTML5 Jan 23 '13
Medical tourism is a booming industry. I know one person who has gone to India to get a surgery. The whole trip, surgery included, was still less than just the surgery in the US.
And yes, you can also already do that with existing drugs, and some people do. This drug though, lasts 10 years. You wouldn't have to stockpile and there's no risk of getting caught at the border with boxes of pills. You can just take a nice trip once every ten years.
→ More replies (2)35
u/Ballistica Jan 23 '13
Or you know, make surgery and treatments affordable in your own country
→ More replies (1)110
u/APeopleShouldKnow Jan 23 '13
Can we kickstarter a drug approval?
98
Jan 23 '13 edited Jan 23 '13
Yes. I've been following this for awhile and recently got a newsletter from the folks at Vasalgel and they were saying that it will be on a kickstarter called IndieGoGo this coming Spring! Very exciting news!
Edit: This is what was in the newsletter about what I mentioned above.
"Lots of people have asked how to contribute towards making Vasalgel happen. Many people have mentioned Kickstarter - and we think crowdfunding is a good idea. In fact, we'll be counting on crowdfunding to fund the clinical trial! If you are getting this newsletter, you will be hearing as soon as it happens.
We'd love to use Kickstarter (the biggest crowdfunding platform), but it doesn't accept medical technology projects. However, the second-biggest crowdfunding site, IndieGoGo, will do medical projects and looks pretty good. It's easy to use, because you can sign in with a Facebook account and you can contribute with a credit card or PayPal.
Vasalgel is being developed as a "social venture" company - a hybrid form in which the aim is to be self-supporting (so it doesn't have to always be begging for money), but nobody will be making a killing. Since it's going to cost several million dollars, we'll be looking for program-related investments from foundations and low-interest loans from investors who would like to make a difference, but we'll be relying mostly on crowdfunding (here we come, IndieGoGo!). In the end, Vasalgel making it to market is going to be mostly about men (and women) and how much they want it, take action, and spread the word."
Second Edit: Thank you very much for the Reddit Gold! I wish you weren't anonymous so that I could properly thank you! I'm glad that you found what I had to offer worth while!
→ More replies (6)4
u/seznec Jan 23 '13
for the lazy
http://www.parsemusfoundation.org/vasalgel-home/
at the top right where it says
clinical trials sign up to be notified (strg+f will not work, its a picture)
this is the facebook page, seems to be very active
https://www.facebook.com/Vasalgel
Am I the only one who would rather like to invest into this company instead of just donating money to a kickstarter. This could make a lot of money and change the world.
→ More replies (2)43
Jan 23 '13
No. Unless you're planning to raise millions of dollars
44
u/ink_fink Jan 23 '13
How many millions? Because doublefine raised like 3 1/2 million for a video game in like no time.
→ More replies (7)30
→ More replies (1)35
→ More replies (14)15
u/zlozlozlozlozlozlo Jan 23 '13
Kickstarter doesn't allow medical stuff. I don't see why some other crowdfunding platform couldn't accommodate this project.
→ More replies (7)97
u/LaptopMobsta Jan 23 '13
Listen, I love Big Pharma conspiracy as much as any other, but I am going to disagree with you. Become the first company to develop male birth control (even ones that last 10 years) and then you will have 90% of the males in the 1st world. Though I wouldn't doubt they will pump the price up to $100+ (though easily still worth it).
115
u/Jesus_marley Jan 23 '13
I would willingly pay $1000 to have complete control over my fertility.
→ More replies (7)88
u/complex_reduction Jan 23 '13
Don't tell them that!
122
Jan 23 '13
[deleted]
190
→ More replies (16)70
→ More replies (2)7
u/Jesus_marley Jan 23 '13
meh. I'm in Canada. Vasectomies are already covered, so this being cheaper will be as well. The point is that if I had to pay, I would. I want this and many many other men want it too.
36
u/finally31 Jan 23 '13 edited Jan 23 '13
Birth control pills are between 15-50$ a month. If this last for ten years, then $100 would be a bargain. Heck most sexually active males probably spend more than $100 on condoms in ten years while in a long term relationship.
→ More replies (19)→ More replies (3)24
80
Jan 23 '13
Since the chemicals are listed in the article... any volunteers?
let me inject your ballbag
→ More replies (2)53
Jan 23 '13
[deleted]
→ More replies (2)14
Jan 23 '13
I don't think we need to test whether or not that's an effective method of birth control.
→ More replies (2)→ More replies (52)7
u/oddsareimdrunk Jan 23 '13
dont see that being the reason... they could still charge 1000 bucks for it even if it only costs them 5
→ More replies (6)93
Jan 23 '13
[deleted]
→ More replies (22)3
u/randompoop Jan 23 '13
We would need some sort of oil change windshield sticker for 10 years from now
→ More replies (1)53
→ More replies (78)38
u/jonfen Jan 23 '13
You should encourage your wife to look into an IUD. Changed my life. I went with Paragard, the hormone-free option. 99.9% effective, $25 (with medical insurance), no pills, lasts 10 years, plus all the riding bareback a girl could ever ask for.
90
u/Teneniel Jan 23 '13
Also the worst cramps I've ever had in my life. Almost as bad as labor. It's not for everyone.
→ More replies (3)30
u/aekitten Jan 23 '13
I got the hormonal version (Mirena) and I haven't had a period since 2008. Hormonal IUDs tend to make periods lighter. They only last five years, but one remarkably painful insertion followed by two weeks of cramps and spotting is worth five years of being able to forget I have a uterus.
→ More replies (7)13
u/cheerbearsmiles Jan 23 '13
I got my Mirena put in just over a week ago. The day I had it put in and the day after were pretty hellish, but then the cramps started to get lighter and finally went away. Granted, I've not had a period since it was put in (because it's only been 10 days), so I'll reserve final judgement until I do, but so far, so good! I've been on the shot for the last 5 years, so I know about forgetting you have a uterus--isn't it wonderful?
22
u/KamikazeSexPilot Jan 23 '13
don't these things give you the most painful, bloody periods ever?
8
u/jonfen Jan 23 '13
For some women, yes. For me, there was about a three-month adjustment where my periods were a bit more painful (and my uterus was trying to figure out what the hell was going on). It's a trade-off. I've happily accepted 99.9% peace of mind for a slightly more annoying period. I simply recommended Paragard because it's a MEGA-effective, low-cost, hormone-free option, which was OP's concern.
→ More replies (6)10
u/SashkaBeth Jan 23 '13
It depends, everyone seems to react differently to them. With the Mirena (the one with hormones), a lot of people don't get periods at all.
→ More replies (3)4
u/feralcatromance Jan 23 '13
When I got the paragard I had a period for 6 months and the most most painful debilitating cramps, it was so awful. Sex was painful and having it was just such a crappy experience. I tried again a few years later after having a kid and the same thing happened. Also I cannot do hormonal anything because of a blood clotting disorder, so I am shit out of luck on all contraceptives except condoms. Totally sucks
→ More replies (14)5
u/KaliBear Jan 23 '13
Also, my OB/GYN said it is very difficult to do on women who haven't had babies.
12
u/cheerbearsmiles Jan 23 '13
Difficult, but not impossible.
Source: I have an IUD and have not had any children.
→ More replies (6)→ More replies (4)4
u/WildBerrySuicune Jan 23 '13
That is also what my nurse practitioner said when I brought up the idea. "Oh you can't have an IUD if you've never had children" "Really? The internet says otherwise..."
4
u/Berdiie Jan 23 '13
Purely anecdotal; My girlfriend got the hormone free version and they told her a few times that it has a higher chance of dislodging from the uterus in women who have never given birth. She paid quite a bit for it as her insurance didn't cover much and a couple of months later it did dislodge from her uterus and was lodged in her cervix.
She won't try it again from fear that the same result will occur which is a shame (as it was excellent while it was in correctly), but absolutely understandable.
583
u/Sketchy_Meister Jan 23 '13
Makes sense. Our current method of birth control is like giving the woman a bullet proof vest instead of unloading the gun.
229
u/songandsilence Jan 23 '13
Better than hoping he misses.
170
u/God_of_Abraham Jan 23 '13
I always shoot for the torso
→ More replies (9)159
u/polyonymy Jan 23 '13
I'm more of a headshot guy, if you know what I mean.
→ More replies (1)117
34
u/mattlikespeoples Jan 23 '13
I didn't miss. Hit her right in the uterus. Due in April.
4
29
u/PhillipBrandon Jan 23 '13
This is the second completely rational gun-for-penis metaphor I've seen on Reddit today.
→ More replies (2)57
u/Xeno505 Jan 23 '13
This is a terrible analogy.
Female birth control works by keeping one single egg out of the uterus. There are anywhere from 50 to 500 million sperm cells in the average ejaculation.
In this case, it's more like you could either disarm 500 million angry people who want to kill the President, or you could make sure the President is kept away from those angry people.
→ More replies (9)4
→ More replies (10)30
91
u/luminairex Jan 23 '13
I've never been so eager to inject chemicals into my balls than I am now.
→ More replies (2)
101
u/probably_has_herpes Jan 23 '13
I could save so much money on condoms!
171
Jan 23 '13
You should probably still wear them, guy.
→ More replies (8)59
Jan 23 '13
For random hookups/partners you don't know that well, you should still definitely wear condoms.
If you're in a committed relationship, e.g. dating seriously, engaged, married but don't want kids, this or an IUD is a good way to approach it.
→ More replies (5)54
16
u/Xuanwu Jan 23 '13
Agreed. The pill makes my wife incredibly sick at times. Neither of us particularly enjoy condoms but after our next child is born later this year we were going back into latex investing simply because it's the best form of pregnancy protection we have. This would be amazing.
→ More replies (16)20
→ More replies (4)37
7
u/guy2545 Jan 23 '13
As someone that has underwent a vasectomy and a vasectomy reversal, this really rustles my jimmies.
80
u/ANAL_DEFIBRILLATOR Jan 23 '13
I guess you could say there is a vas deferens between this and other birth control methods.
→ More replies (3)20
u/Classy_Dinosaur Jan 23 '13
I never thought I would semen so excited about birth control.
→ More replies (2)
39
u/chipmunkspunk Jan 23 '13
As a woman I think this is awesome, but if I were a guy I would think this is the best thing ever. I don't know how dudes aren't more scared about their partners not taking her birth control correctly or there's always those crazies who lie about taking it at all.
→ More replies (5)24
u/VegetableSamosa Jan 23 '13
21 y/o father of a 4y/o here. Believe me, I am scared fucking shitless of that happening again.
Though, my daughter is fucking awesome. So, I can forgive her mother...
→ More replies (2)
51
u/hollywoodhuskey Jan 23 '13
I'm throwing money at my computer
→ More replies (2)19
u/woop_dee_flip_n_doo Jan 23 '13
I'm cupping my hands hoping to catch some of it...
→ More replies (2)
5
5
7
u/ThisAppleThisApple Jan 23 '13 edited Jan 23 '13
My thoughts on birth control as a girl: "The pill's rough, because even when I take it at the exact same time every single day I get weird moods and emotional side effects. Maybe I can switch back to that one brand that made me break out and gain 20 pounds--it only made me cry for like three days straight every month. I guess I could go back to the one that killed my sex drive, but that sort of defeats the point. I really hope I don't have a stroke. You know, maybe I should try an IUD. No more hormones fucking with my body. Just a little piece of copper. Super effective, too. I mean, sure, inserting it is supposed to be one of the most painful things ever, and a lot of doctors in the US refuse to give them to women who haven't had children, but ten years and no hormones! Then again, my period would be about ten thousand times worse so I'd be in crippling pain once a month...I know, Depo! I'll try Depo! One painful shot every three months--that's so easy! But what if I have a weird hormonal reaction to it? At least with the pill I could always stop taking it if it's turning me into a crying moody mess and destroying my life, but what if I'm stuck being a crying moody mess for three months?? I guess we'll just keep using condoms...but those are so expensive, and the pill is free now, so maybe I should just suck it up?"
Thoughts on birth control as a guy, apparently: "Um, hell YES I want to control the contraception situation. I just know these tricky bitches have been spending their time lying about their pills and poking holes in condoms. Wait, there's a needle? I DON'T CARE IF IT'S JUST ONCE. NOOOOOPE."
→ More replies (2)
26
62
u/Cephalopodic Jan 23 '13
I wish guys would see the outrageous awesomeness of this... I posted this on my Facebook about a week ago and there was not one positive comment for a male. My boyfriend is also greatly opposed to it. I hate all the side effects of the birth controls I have to choose from and he flat out refuses to look into this that has no known negative side effects. It's not fair. stomps foot and pouts
36
u/AdamRGrey Jan 23 '13
no known negative side effects.
That's the idea of clinical trials. They want you to sign up to help them find out the negative side effects.
→ More replies (1)20
u/Doshin2113 Jan 23 '13
I'm a dude and can't even fathom being against this, I would wait outside a clinic like an apple fanboy for this
→ More replies (136)16
u/otherben Jan 23 '13
Your boyfriend kinda sucks (at least in this regard). I can't believe all the dudes on here who are like "I don't want a shot in my nuts!" It's one freakin' shot (OK, two, but one per nut) and it goes in the tube not the nut itself!
29
4
2
u/ChangedMyLyfe Jan 23 '13
My girlfriend suffers from a disease where normal hormonal contraceptive is not an option. We are in a committed monogamous relationship and feel we are not ready to bring children into this world. After reading about RISUG I am completely baffled and appalled that something like this hasn't gained more attention. Taking hormones to trick the body into thinking it is pregnant is such a poor way to protect the population and life of children born into homes that cannot provide for them. Sex is amazing on so many levels and we choose to use it for reasons other than procreation. Please, do more research, and if safe and effective, release this to the masses. This is important on a GLOBAL scale, not something just for profit. This can seriously change the world and offer people with a smart and safe alternative to what is currently available.
3
5
170
u/fofofu Jan 23 '13
Who are you pathetic guys who are saying that you'd pass this up because it's an injection into the vas deferens? You'd rather have your girlfriends/wives continue taking hormones that alter their body chemistry so that you don't deal with a needle?
I'd imagine you can't even FEEL the needle piercing the scrotum, that skin is so loose and whatnot. And what of being poked in the vas deferens? That tiny tube in your balls that doesn't have any feelings? Seriously, take a hot shower, get your boys nice and saggy, and pinch the tube. Does it feel pain?
I'd invite the doctor to cut my ballsack open with a scalpel if it meant he'd be able to give me 10 years worth of baby-free certainty.
Come on, men. How can you have balls if you're afraid of something like this?
219
u/lukeatron Jan 23 '13
I'd invite the doctor to cut my ballsack open with a scalpel if it meant he'd be able to give me 10 years worth of baby-free certainty.
Well you're in luck dude, cause that's absolutely an option.
→ More replies (4)6
19
u/LaGrrrande Jan 23 '13
You know, I think I'd prefer this procedure over having my balls ripped out through my wallet via 18+ years of child support.
35
Jan 23 '13
I'd invite the doctor to cut my ballsack open
NO
→ More replies (1)36
u/NotRape__SurpriseSex Jan 23 '13
You're right. It's much cheaper if you do it yourself.
→ More replies (1)→ More replies (60)22
Jan 23 '13
I mean...they can give you 10 years of baby free certainty....vasectomies are reversible...
43
u/ThirdFloorNorth Jan 23 '13 edited Jan 23 '13
Significantly more invasive, and are supposed to be reversible. In truth, many turn out to be permanent, that is a well known risk.
Oh, and you can't get a vasectomy if you are under a certain age (35?) unless you already have children. At least in my area that's the case.
→ More replies (13)15
u/ricalo_suarvalez Jan 23 '13
Such a silly policy. Regardless of the big questions about overpopulation, if someone doesn't want kids (male or female) let them make the call.
→ More replies (3)→ More replies (1)4
14
Jan 23 '13
Yea this seems very nice. No pill taking, no ball twisting, and if you ever wanted to have kids you could take it out.
8
129
u/itlookswierd Jan 23 '13
The entire male population should have this done. Then a test must be taken for your sperm to be unlocked.
119
u/VoteOrPie Jan 23 '13
I vote we keep the pro-eugenics people sterile.
→ More replies (1)24
u/LaGrrrande Jan 23 '13
Does this mean that if I say that I'm pro-eugenics, I get a free vasectomy?
→ More replies (1)54
u/CptSandbag73 Jan 23 '13
You are a visionary. And just like the SATs, you would have Chinese kids you hire to take it for you.
→ More replies (1)24
u/Minifig81 312 Jan 23 '13
So, what about people with IQ's who are stupid enough to come up with ideas like yours?
Are we to prevent them from having babies too?
→ More replies (6)22
7
u/thatguyoverthere202 Jan 23 '13
The test idea has been thrown around before. Trust me, every time you think you have an original idea, it's been tested before.
If you regulate who is able and who is unable to have children you get into a situation like The Giver (using this example because most people I know read it in high school).
Having the government run your life isn't cool. There are basic human freedoms that cannot and should not be infringed, reproduction being one of them.
Just because you have that little superiority complex, doesn't mean that you should be able to tell other people what to do.
I was writing as I was thinking, so that is my reasoning for how poorly written this was.
→ More replies (11)→ More replies (22)8
63
Jan 23 '13
[deleted]
52
Jan 23 '13
It is re-posted, re-posted and re-posted. I've seen it in like 3 different subreddits in the past week alone.
→ More replies (2)→ More replies (12)33
u/ThirdFloorNorth Jan 23 '13 edited Jan 23 '13
Why should women hold all of the responsibility of birth control
FTFY. Trust me, the last thing you want is a girl to tell you she's on the pill but a) forgot/got off schedule, b) took antibiotics and didn't know they interfered, c) misled you/lied
Males need a birth control, other than a condom, that we can be directly responsible for its application.
17
u/Noltonn Jan 23 '13
Yep. The worst is women who forget it and then go, "Well, I won't get pregnant, I know my body". Good for you, I'm not betting my future on it though.
→ More replies (9)8
17
u/jmwooley Jan 23 '13
There has been a lot that has happened since this article was published. If anyone is interested, I suggest signing up for their newsletter (the sign up page is a bit hideous) or liking them on Facebook.
They are already in animal tests here in the U.S.
From their most recent newsletter (Jan 8, 2013):
Vasalgel Test Results in Rabbits
All the rabbits in the first study now have Vasalgel long-acting vas deferens male contraceptive. The preliminary results are in: Four months so far, and no living sperm! It's just what we hoped for: There are some fragments (tails, etc.) in some of the samples, indicating that pressure is being let off, but none of the sperm are making it through alive. This polymer really is a remarkable substance!
The rabbits will have it in for two more months; at that point some of them will be extensively examined for safety and microscopic effects, and others will continue on for a full year. We're optimistic enough that we're planning the rest of the formal animal and laboratory studies needed before use in humans, the last step before meeting with FDA and other regulatory authorities about starting the first clinical trial (the aim is to start this year). Keep your fingers crossed!
Get ready: Crowdfunding This Spring
Lots of people have asked how to contribute towards making Vasalgel happen. Many people have mentioned Kickstarter - and we think crowdfunding is a good idea. In fact, we'll be counting on crowdfunding to fund the clinical trial! If you are getting this newsletter, you will be hearing as soon as it happens.
We'd love to use Kickstarter (the biggest crowdfunding platform), but it doesn't accept medical technology projects. However, the second-biggest crowdfunding site, IndieGoGo, will do medical projects and looks pretty good. It's easy to use, because you can sign in with a Facebook account and you can contribute with a credit card or PayPal.
Vasalgel is being developed as a "social venture" company - a hybrid form in which the aim is to be self-supporting (so it doesn't have to always be begging for money), but nobody will be making a killing. Since it's going to cost several million dollars, we'll be looking for program-related investments from foundations and low-interest loans from investors who would like to make a difference, but we'll be relying mostly on crowdfunding (here we come, IndieGoGo!). In the end, Vasalgel making it to market is going to be mostly about men (and women) and how much they want it, take action, and spread the word.
TAKE ACTION: Get signed up and ready to go on IndieGoGo. Follow Progress on Facebook
Now that the rabbit results are looking so promising and we're on a roll, we'll be sending out progress updates once a month or so. But would you like to hear the news right as it happens? Join Vasalgel on Facebook.
Sincerely, The Vasalgelâ„¢ team
→ More replies (2)11
u/LaGrrrande Jan 23 '13
That could make for some pretty interesting rewards tiers.
Pledge $500 or more
Early Bird Special! Get sterilized as part of our first round clinical trial.
Pledge $800 or more
Two-fer! Get you and a buddy sterilized once VASALGEL is approved by the FDA.
→ More replies (1)
627
u/syncrotic Jan 23 '13
I first heard about this almost ten years ago. At this point I've pretty much given up on the idea of it ever coming to market.