Ultrasound as male birth control?

sperm
Spermy’s going on a little vacation.
Human trials for male birth control are happening at the University of North Carolina to see if a blast of ultrasound to dudes’ parts could safely stop sperm production for up to six months at a time. Via BBC:

Lead researcher Dr James Tsuruta said: “We think this could provide men with up to six months of reliable, low-cost, non-hormonal contraception from a single round of treatment.
“Our long-term goal is to use ultrasound from therapeutic instruments that are commonly found in sports medicine or physical therapy clinics as an inexpensive, long-term, reversible male contraceptive suitable for use in developing to first world countries.”
Once the testis has stopped producing sperm and all “sperm reserves” have been depleted, explain the researchers, the man will be temporarily infertile.

I’m sure I’m not the only one waiting for a cheap and easy method of birth control for men — it’s been long enough some of us have had to bear the responsibility, that’s for damn sure. (Do I sounds bitter?) Not to mention it would be significant for reproductive health access in developing countries (props to Bill Gates for the funding). Hopefully we’ll get some solid results from these trials.
h/t to Ethan.

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