Shepherd Medical Company is gearing up to conduct a clinical trial for the IVD, or Intra Vas Device, a long-term male contraceptive that works by plugging the vas deferens, allowing for a potential “return to duty,” at least compared to the very-permanent vasectomy. Shepherd still contends that the device is really only intended for those who no longer intend to have children…
“Somehow psychologically, it’s a little easier to think about something being added than something being cut,” said Elaine Lissner, director of the non-profit Male Contraception Information Project based in San Francisco.
“They put in two tiny, soft silicone plugs per side, and any sperm that make it past the first plug are stopped by the second. It’s not rocket science, but it seems to do the job.”
However, Lissner stressed that the method is only intended for men who do not plan having any more children, although reversibility was shown to be effective in monkeys after seven months.
“It’s a lot easier to pull the plugs out than to find the best, most expensive micro-surgeon to sew a vas deferens back together. So that’s a plus for the IVD,” said Lissner.
However, Lissner stressed that the method is only intended for men who do not plan having any more children, although reversibility was shown to be effective in monkeys after seven months.Good news for the neonatal-phobic, bad news for sperm.
Press release from Male Contraception Information Project…
Clinical trial info page…
More about the device…