Female master's graduate creates contraceptive gel for men.

This type of contraceptive gel is designed to form a barrier in the vas deferens and can be easily dissolved when the person wants to have children.

Illustration photo: REUTERS

This invention belongs to Kyla Raoult, who recently graduated with a master's degree from Stellenbosch University in South Africa.

According to IFLScience on December 17th, during her studies at Stellenbosch, Raoult demonstrated the potential of using hormone-free hydrogel technology to 'reverse' the movement of sperm through the vas deferens.

"Hydrogels are designed to stay in place until the patient wants to regain fertility," Raoult explained. Hydrogels are hydrophilic polymers with a 3D structure that swell in water without dissolving (for a short time), capable of absorbing thousands of times their dry weight in water.

After injection, the gel is designed to form a semi-permeable barrier inside the vas deferens in less than a minute. The pores within the gel still allow semen to pass through, but are too small for sperm to pass through.

Throughout the time the gel is in place, any sperm produced is reabsorbed into the body, in the same way as after a vasectomy procedure.

The major difference from a vasectomy is that the gel can be easily dissolved to reverse the process. "Simply injecting a solution into the gel to reverse the process breaks the chemical bonds within the gel, causing it to dissolve into a liquid that can be washed away," Raoult explained.

The polymers that make up the gel have been shown to be safe for the body, and this treatment does not alter hormone levels in any way. Dr. Raoult hopes this method can eventually be performed easily and quickly in clinics.

"This technology could help men control their fertility without the common side effects of hormone-blocking medication. They could then restore their fertility when they are ready to have children," Raoult said.

The female master's graduate invented the gel after being inspired to search for new contraceptive methods, as most current methods are for women.

Further research is needed to determine the exact duration of effectiveness of this contraceptive gel, and the study is still in its early stages. However, the need for contraception among men certainly exists. A recent study in the journal Nature found that the number of vasectomy consultations and procedures has increased significantly in the US.

Therefore, the aforementioned new research is very promising, but we still have to wait a while longer to see a non-hormonal, reversible contraceptive method for men become widely available.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/nu-thac-si-tao-ra-gel-tranh-thai-cho-nam-gioi-20241218162126105.htm