Here is something new in male contraception to watch for. Shepherd Medical Company reports that “… the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) has awarded the company a $1.4 million USD grant to conduct human clinical trials on its proprietary Intra Vas Device (IVD)”:
The IVD, is a flexible, hollow, silicone plug that is inserted into the vas deferens tubes (in men) to block sperm transport. Preliminary studies in primates and humans have shown that the device has the potential to be as effective as vasectomy. The preliminary studies on primates have also supported that the device could be easily removed and sperm flow reestablished. Currently, trying to reverse a vasectomy is precarious and very expensive with pregnancy rates at only 50-60%.
The IVD is implanted in a simple outpatient procedure under local anesthetic in a doctor’s office. IVD insertion will involve accessing the vas deferens tubes much like during a vasectomy, except rather than cutting and cauterizing the tubes, thereby permanently damaging them, only a small opening is made in each tube, to insert two silicone plugs. The tiny opening is expected to heal completely and rapidly. It is anticipated that the IVD can later be removed in a similar procedure to its insertion, reestablishing sperm flow. The IVD has the potential to become an attractive alternative to standard vasectomy…
Dr. Neil Pollock, co-founder and director of Shepherd Medical Company, has a personal website where additional information about IVD can be found…
UPDATE (01/31/05):
The Canadian Press interviews Neil Pollock and has additional info on IVD…