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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Sperm-blocking contraceptive hope | Sperm-blocking contraceptive hope |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Scientists are working on a contraceptive treatment which would stop men ejaculating sperm. | Scientists are working on a contraceptive treatment which would stop men ejaculating sperm. |
| King's College London researchers saw blood pressure and schizophrenia drugs had this effect, and have identified chemicals which can do the same thing. | King's College London researchers saw blood pressure and schizophrenia drugs had this effect, and have identified chemicals which can do the same thing. |
| The team now plan to test the chemicals in animal and human studies and hope to have a treatment in five years. | The team now plan to test the chemicals in animal and human studies and hope to have a treatment in five years. |
| Fertility experts welcomed the work, saying it could mean couples could share contraceptive responsibility. | Fertility experts welcomed the work, saying it could mean couples could share contraceptive responsibility. |
| It gets really tiring for women always to be the one in charge of fertility Rebecca Findlay, fpa | It gets really tiring for women always to be the one in charge of fertility Rebecca Findlay, fpa |
| Several other male contraceptives, given as injections, implants or patches are under development. Most are based on hormones which trick the brain into switching off hormone production. | Several other male contraceptives, given as injections, implants or patches are under development. Most are based on hormones which trick the brain into switching off hormone production. |
| The treatment being developed at King's acts by preventing the longitudinal muscle in the vas deferens contracting to propel sperm out of the penis. | The treatment being developed at King's acts by preventing the longitudinal muscle in the vas deferens contracting to propel sperm out of the penis. |
| The drugs designed to treat schizophrenia and high blood pressure stopped men ejaculating were found to have this effect over a decade ago. | The drugs designed to treat schizophrenia and high blood pressure stopped men ejaculating were found to have this effect over a decade ago. |
| But they have side effects such as dizziness and drowsiness, which meant they could not be used as contraceptives. | But they have side effects such as dizziness and drowsiness, which meant they could not be used as contraceptives. |
| Tests on human tissue have helped identify chemicals which have the same effect. | Tests on human tissue have helped identify chemicals which have the same effect. |
| The team are now set to test the treatment on animals and then humans. | The team are now set to test the treatment on animals and then humans. |
| 'Welcome' | 'Welcome' |
| It is proposed men would take a pill each day, as women do with the female contraceptive pill, or could take one a few hours before they plan to have sex. | It is proposed men would take a pill each day, as women do with the female contraceptive pill, or could take one a few hours before they plan to have sex. |
| Because the contraceptive is not dependent on hormones, the researchers suggest a man's fertility should return the following day. | Because the contraceptive is not dependent on hormones, the researchers suggest a man's fertility should return the following day. |
| Dr Christopher Smith, who worked on the research, said: "If a man was taking the pill over a period of several months and decided to come off it, we would expect his fertility to return just as quickly as if he had taken it on a one-off basis." | Dr Christopher Smith, who worked on the research, said: "If a man was taking the pill over a period of several months and decided to come off it, we would expect his fertility to return just as quickly as if he had taken it on a one-off basis." |
| Rebecca Findlay of the fpa, formerly the Family Planning Association, said: "It gets really tiring for women always to be the one in charge of fertility. | Rebecca Findlay of the fpa, formerly the Family Planning Association, said: "It gets really tiring for women always to be the one in charge of fertility. |
| "For women, it would be another form of liberation." | "For women, it would be another form of liberation." |
| And Dr Allan Pacey, honorary secretary of the British Fertility Society, said: "I would welcome the concept, if further tests showed it to work. | And Dr Allan Pacey, honorary secretary of the British Fertility Society, said: "I would welcome the concept, if further tests showed it to work. |
| "There is a need for something that men can take." | "There is a need for something that men can take." |
| But he said he was concerned that sperm would be 'redirected' into urine, or be present in the urethra, and that pregnancies could therefore still occur. |