New Gizmos Wage War on Sperm Flow

Sound waves in sensitive area cut sperm production

(NEWSER) - Researchers say they have found what could be a cheap, reliable, and long-lasting form of male birth control, although it involves zapping the testicles with ultrasound. A study on rats found that sound waves slowed sperm production to levels that would cause infertility in humans, making ultrasound a "promising candidate" for contraception, the BBC reports. More»

More under-40s opt for the liberating procedure

(NEWSER) - Once exclusive to the over-40 crowd, vasectomies are increasingly popular among young men who want condom-free sex and no fears of Daddydom. But there's also a control component, writes Richard Morgan in Details: These men are taking charge of birth control, not leaving it up to the woman. "I don't have to worry about being tricked," says one snipped man. More»

Docs offer March Madness vasectomy special for couch-potato sports fans

(NEWSER) - Crafty Oregon urologists are boosting their vasectomy clinic business at a time of year when a lot of men are on the sofa anyway, the Oregonian reports. A weekend of NCAA basketball tournament action allows just about enough time to recuperate from the surgery. "When March Madness approaches, you need an excuse to stay at home in front of the big screen," says a radio ad for the clinic. More»

(NEWSER) - A new book teaches teenage girls how to determine when they are (and are not) most likely to become pregnant, but some adults are sure they want girls to have the information. Cycle Savvy,The Smart Teen's Guide to the Mysteries of Her Body by Toni Weschler, shows teens how to chart fertility over their monthly cycles. More»

Fertility gene plays a big role in sperm production

(NEWSER) - Scientists could be a big step closer to inventing a birth control pill for men. New research at the University of Edinburgh has pinpointed a gene called Katnal 1 that manages the final stages of sperm development, reports the Daily Telegraph . In theory, the work could lead to a new drug that would block the gene. More»