HEALTH ISSUE: A Blast to the test every 6 months...

Ultrasound waves as contraceptive?

A Blast To The Testes Every 6 Months Can Provide A Temporary & Reversible Form Of Birth Control


London: Researchers from University of North Carolina believe a blast of ultrasound to the testes can safely stop sperm production for six months.
         The scientists, in fact are beginning to conduct tests to see if ultrasound can be used as a reversible male contraceptive, reports the BBC News website.
          Lead researcher James Tsuruta said: "We think this could provide men with up to six months of reliable, low-cost, non hormonal contraception from a single round of treatment.
         With a grant of $100,000  from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation the researchers hope to offer a new birth control option to couples throughout the world.
        "Our long-term goal is to use ultrasound from therapeutic instruments that are commonly found in sports medicine or physical therapy clinics as an inexpensive, long-term, reversible male contraceptive suitable for use in developing to first world nations."
        Once the test is has stopped producing sperm and all "sperm reserves" have been depleted, the man will be temporarily infertile. The effects of ultrasound waves would easily wear off and leave men with no adverse side effects, believe experts.
        the search for a male "Pill" has intrigued researchers for decades. However, progress has proved extremely slow. Reasons include a lack of interest from pharmaceutical firms and a lingering belief that many women would not entrust the job of preventing pregnancy to men.
        Early research has suggested that the method could be successful. However, experts warned that the long-term effects were still unknown.
        The idea of using ultrasound waves has been around since the 1970s, but had failed to attract much scientific support. Then in 2007 another North Carolina study suggested that it could be effective at the same time as researchers in Italy found that the technique worked on dogs. Raffaella Leoci, from the University of Bari, who led the animal study, said: "It's great that many people are working on ultrasound -- it will make it easier to get the answers we need."