A Welsh scientist working on a new male pill wants to reduce the burden on women of protecting against unwanted pregnancies.

Prof Chris Barratt is leading research on a non-hormonal drug which prevents sperm cells from reaching an egg.

His team at the University of Dundee has received significant funding from the Bill and Melina Gates Foundation.

“It’s been a very poorly researched topic for 40 or 50 years,” Prof Barratt said, but society has changed.

His team’s research could see men given a gel or a pill that would affect the sperm cell, effectively disabling its function.

Instead of targeting the production of sperm, his research focuses on slowing the sperm cells’ swimming action down and making them similar to those in infertile patients.

    • Scubus@sh.itjust.works
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      11 months ago

      Adding to this: as a mid-20s person, I was always told that I would not be able to get a vasectomy without certain stipulations, like already having children. That really pisses me off, since that defeats the entire point.

      I recently talked to my doctor though, and they stated that that is not the case(for men, women evidently don’t get to control their bodies). So for anyone else trying to get one, make sure to talk to your doctor. They may be able to hook you up.

      • iiGxC@slrpnk.net
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        11 months ago

        Yeah I got mine no problem, but I found the urologist on the r/childfree wiki’s list of doctors. Fuck reddit, but it is a good resource, and they have doctors for vasectomies and hysterectomies

      • rickyrigatoni@lemm.ee
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        11 months ago

        I think this is one of those things that depends where you are. I’ve heard of guys trying to get vasectomies in the deep south getting the run around because they didn’t have kids.

      • Maximilious@kbin.social
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        11 months ago

        Vasectomy’s are reversible while tube tieing is not. It’s still bullshit females can’t make that decision for themselves though.

        • NOPper@lemmy.world
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          11 months ago

          Technically reversible, but in no way guaranteed.

          However, if you can afford to freeze some sperm there’s that option.

        • stepan@lemmy.world
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          11 months ago

          Vasectomies are meant to be permanent. Even if you get your vasectomy reversed, your fertility may never come back. Vasectomy reversal surgery is complicated and expensive, and doesn’t always work. So you should only get a vasectomy if you’re totally certain you don’t want to get someone pregnant for the rest of your life." - Planned Parenthood

          Literally a five second google search will debunk your own point

        • stufkes@lemmy.world
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          11 months ago

          My gynecologist said I must be at least 35 and have a child for the procedure to be considered…

    • Wanderer@lemm.ee
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      11 months ago

      Isn’t there a risk from ball pain?

      Like forever not for healing.

      • iiGxC@slrpnk.net
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        11 months ago

        I think there is a slight risk of that, not sure. Not something to cheap out on, go for the best doctor you can

      • CADmonkey@lemmy.world
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        11 months ago

        I was worried about it hurting, and I’ll be honest I could have done it over a lunch break at work. Almost zero pain, and my wife watched the surgery, which didn’t even last as long as one Metallica song.