Besides spreading the responsibility, it would be nice for men to have an option. I realize there are issues. Condoms of course have major benefit (disease and so forth), and what woman wants to put their reproductive roulette in the hand of a man (although the reverse can be true too).
So, news of a study going ahead in India, um, excites me. Ten to fifteen minute procedure, last up to ten years and reversible. Injects a gel into the ol' sperm tube. When you want it reversed, inject something else that dissolves the gel.
Sound great!
But...
In 2002, when enrollment in the Indian study was halted, more than 140 men were already using RISUG. Concern about side effects and insufficiency of safety data caused a temporary suspension of the project. However, expert panels subsequently concluded that the major side effect -- several weeks of non-painful scrotal swelling in about a third of the subjects --was not enough to stop the study.
33% chance of scrotal swelling. Mmmmm.
