PROJECT

Ultrasound Male
Contraceptive

HUMAN HEALTH
PROJECT

Ultrasound Male
Contraceptive

HUMAN HEALTH

Project summary

Please note: This is an archived project that is not currently being updated.

Ultrasound has been proposed as a noninvasive contraceptive for men when applied to the testicles, but the effect varies greatly depending on the species and the methods applied. While ultrasound was an effective contraceptive in rats and a permanent sterilant in dogs, study results in monkeys and self-reported outcomes in humans were disappointing. We are no longer involved in research on ultrasound as a contraceptive.

The Project in Detail

Topics

  1. Ultrasound effectiveness varies by species
  2. Effective contraception in humans remains elusive

Ultrasound effectiveness varies by species

In 2007, the Parsemus Foundation sponsored a study, conducted by Family Health International with the University of North Carolina, to test therapeutic ultrasound applied to the testes as a multi-month contraceptive in rats (reportedly 15 minutes of treatment for about 6 months of effect). This method was shown to work by one professor in the 1970’s but had never been taken seriously by other researchers until this study. The FHI/UNC team’s successful pilot study was the basis for the UNC team’s winning application for a Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Grand Challenges Explorations grant to continue the work.

In January 2012, the results from the UNC team were published and got widespread press coverage. Here are a few examples:

Time Magazine Jan. 31, 2012
Globe and Mail Feb. 2, 2012
Male Contraception Information Project press release Jan. 29, 2012

The Parsemus Foundation also funded an Italian team to continue their successful work on ultrasound as permanent sterilization in dogs. The results were published in 2015 and found that only one method was effective. A regimen of three applications of ultrasound at 1 MHz, and 1.5 W/cm2, lasting 5 min with an interval of 48 hours was effective as permanent sterilization in the dog without hormonal impact (get the free full text).

Application of ultrasound to dog testes. Photo credit Raffaella Leoci.

Lastly, we funded an ultrasound study at the University of California, which had some effect in primates (although not as quick or long-lasting as in dogs).

Preliminary results from all three teams were presented in October 2011 as posters at the Future of Contraception Initiative conference, and the final monkey results were published here.

The total number of morphologically normal sperm in an ejaculate (total normal count) from male monkeys treated by two methods of ultrasound exposure. The black arrow indicates the time of ultrasound exposure. From Vandevoort & Tollner, 2012.

Effective contraception in humans remains elusive

It is now clear that under the right conditions, ultrasound works in dogs and rats (and has some effect in monkeys). However, the trick for getting long-lasting effect in large adult monkeys, and humans, has yet to be found. In fact, in late 2013 a first man decided to try ultrasound. He started with a very high personal sperm count, it is true, but it is discouraging that he found the effect of ultrasound wearing off within a few months, despite completing at least 10 treatments of 20-30 minutes on a Monday-Wednesday-Friday schedule. His results were as follows:

SPERM EVALUATION Pre-treatment During treatment Right after treatment After treatment
11/25/14 12/16/13 1/7/14 2/21/14
Total Sperm Concentration 62,000,000 42,400,000 33,400,000 49,400,000
% Motility 50 10 20 30
% Normal Morphology 55 30 20 30
Total Sperm Count 124,000,000 63,600,000 66,800,000 98,800,000
Germinal cells 0-1 0-1 0-1 4-6
WBC 0-1 0-1 0-1 6-8
Pinhead ringtail 0-1 0-1 0 0-1
Forward progression 0-1 0-1 0 0-1

Based on the results of these studies, though, we think ultrasound has the most potential as a nonsurgical sterilization alternative for animals. Its use in humans as a six-month contraceptive remains elusive, and human use of ultrasound is complicated. Variations in the ultrasound regimen can make a big difference in effect. Even fairly short-term use in smaller animals can lead to permanent infertility, and longer term use in men appears to result in a reduction in fertility. Thus, ultrasound is probably best as a secondary method only for men who want no more children, given that there are so many questions about how long the action lasts, whether sperm are damaged and could result in abnormal offspring, and how well fertility returns.

Ultrasound has great potential as a nonsurgical hormone-sparing sterilization for dogs (a specialty item of interest to owners of large-breed dogs) as outlined in the Italian study. However, the Parsemus Foundation is not funding additional studies.

Last updated on December 9, 2024

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What people  are saying

“Responsibility and right to decide - why shouldn't we explore new options when the methods available today match with the family planning ideals from the last century? You should be able to choose from a range of options, regardless of your gender or genitals.”

AlvaJune 2024

“There should be an easy condom-free way for men to ensure no offspring arrive.”

Zeez2014

“Traditional contraceptive options, meaning the ones for women, aren't suitable for me. So, I'm hoping that there would be something suitable for my partner.”

Joanna2014

“As a male, I want to take responsibility for my half of the procreation equation. Anyway condoms are awful.”

McKenzie

“Men need more options...moreover, women need men to have more options.”

April

“Things need to change for the male contraception industry. Being open to change is only the start. Humanity NEEDS more options.”

Jonathan

“Men should be able to take part in contraception without having to use a condom or getting a vasectomy.”

Peter

“Men should have more options than just condoms (which are not 100% safe) and vasectomy (which is irreversible). For women, there are many options (almost all have some side effects) and most of them are hormonal which require flushing hormones in blood streams.”

Shubhi

“Male contraceptives are a massively important step for the sexual safety of everyone.”

Justis

“Men need more contraceptive options. Contraception shouldn't be almost exclusively hormonal options for women.”

Alex

“It's vital to have more birth control options for men!”

Max

“Men need more options for contraception.”

Nicole

“I have had the responsibility and side effects of hormonal contraceptives for 17 years. My fiance and I would welcome an option that would allow him to take the responsibility for awhile and give me a break from the problems that the hormones cause for me.”

Julie

“As a millennial, it would be great to have a variety of options that put me in charge of my life instead of relying on female contraceptives or condoms that are not always safe.”

Andrew

“Using condoms is just the least evil for both partners. Male contraception could have significantly fewer side effects and could be much more precise and target-oriented than the pill for women.”

Jonas

“We're newly-wed but we don't think that we're fit to be parents yet. I'm only 23 and I think I need to grow up a couple of years before thinking about having a baby. So, instead of wearing condoms for the coming five years or so and feeling miserable about it, I want an effective solution that I can reverse in the future because I know one day we will think of having a baby and I do not want to put my partner at any risk by using hormonal pills. Current methods all focus on the woman and all have terrible side effects (my wife cannot use IUDs) and condoms are fine until you get sick of them during intercourse and just throw them away.”

Ahmed

“I am a woman and as a migraine sufferer, my contraceptive choices are limited to IUDs or progestin-only pills. Since I experience unwanted side effects with these, we rely on condoms. A longer-term "no-worry" solution would be much preferred.¬† It would be worth the cost as opposed to an unwanted pregnancy!”

Sara DMarried, no kids

“I want control of my fertility that is safe, convenient to use and totally effective. That way I can be in control of my life rather than putting it in the hands of women and government agencies.”

S. Gee

“I would like the opportunity to be more intimate with my partner and condoms bar that, beyond the conventional 'doesn't feel as good' argument. However, I am extremely concerned about the failure rates of the Pill due to human error and would like to take some responsibility for my future finances into my own hands without being abstinent.”

New college graduateAge 22

“Condoms are a nice method; however I have a 3-year-old that proves they are not 100% effective!”

Frank B.Father of 3, age 27

“I do not wish to further my genetic line due to a severe bleeder's disease, which also makes normal vasectomy a no-go.”

Anonymous

“I provide family planning services to young people in Southern California and would love to have more to offer the young men who come in (and their partners) much more than condoms or permanent vasectomy. I speak from the front lines that most of my clients know about condoms and are NOT using them as much as we would like.”

Kristel DNurse Practitioner

“As a male I would not take any contraceptive that altered my hormonal balance. And the idea of getting a MONTHLY injection - are you crazy??? This is probably why surveys come back saying there's limited interest in male contraceptives - given that sort of choice, I'm not interested either!”

Terry S.

“Having control over when I have children is the foremost thing in my life. I place great value on having freedom of choice and freedom from worry. Also, being a person with not much money living in a third world country, a cheap contraceptive is imperative.”

Anonymous

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