A Gel Injected Into the Scrotum Could Be the Next Male Contraceptive

Virginia-based biotech company Contraline is testing a new type of male contraceptive akin to a vasectomy but made to be fully reversible..

The approach uses a soft, water-based substance called a hydrogel thats injected into the vas deferensthe pair of tubes in the male reproductive tract that transport mature sperm..

Raevti Bole, a urologist specializing in mens health at the Cleveland Clinic whos not involved in the trial, says an injection into the vas deferens could come with a risk of skin infection, mild discomfort, or minor bruising, she says.. And there are still unknowns about the gel itself..

While hydrogels are biocompatible and generally safe, Bole says she would want to know if Contralines product could cause permanent scarring or changes to the vas deferens and whether repeat injections could be done safely...

The US National Institutes of Health and the Population Council, an international nonprofit focused on health and social sciences, are testing a hormone-based gel that men apply daily to their shoulders to block sperm production..

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