Researchers have developed a completely new type of contraception - a hydrogel block that is placed in
The hydrogel has already been approved for use inbody for other purposes and is recognized as safe. To create a new male contraceptive, the researchers added thioketals to the gel, which, as previous studies have shown, dissociate when exposed to molecules containing oxygen. They also added a small amount of titanium dioxide, which releases oxygen when exposed to ultrasound.
In practice, the hydrogel is injected into the vas deferensducts, which are tubes that carry sperm from the testicles to the penis during ejaculation. This blocks sperm, preventing them from mixing with sperm and thus interfering with the patient's ability to impregnate the woman. Removal of the hydrogel is carried out by treating the area with a small amount of ultrasound. This releases the oxygen in the titanium dioxide, which in turn breaks down the gel, allowing it to be washed out through the penis.
The researchers tested the hydrogel onlaboratory male rats. They did not give birth. When scientists removed the gel from experimental rats using a conventional ultrasound device, they found that the animals were again capable of reproduction.
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