7 ms·

I see a couple of acceptance problems with the device. First, men a notoriously squeamish when it comes to their testicles. "Heating" without telling the tempe

by iSnow 5y ago

I see a couple of acceptance problems with the device. First, men a notoriously squeamish when it comes to their testicles. "Heating" without telling the temperature won't fly with many. I guess it doesn't have to be hot as it probably only needs to be warm enough to relax the cremaster muscles. If it has to be uncomfortably hot, I see little chance in the market. Second, I'd expect the ultrasound to hurt. The epididymis is pretty sensitive to pain. Third, it will feel like gambling as the female partner doesn't really know whether all sperm is killed or whether she will end up pregnant. And for the male, it will be a leap of faith as well. That should improve if a lot of users report no unwanted pregnancies, but in the beginning...

giantg2 5y ago
4th, there's no data about return of fertility in humans after longterm use and if it raises birth defects.
- iSnow 5y ago
  And 5th, I have no idea how long sperm remains viable in the prostate, but I imagine that you would have to ultrasound your balls regularly or end up with live swimmers in a very unpredictable way. I'd imagine you'd destroy them and maybe their precursors, then have protected sex for 2-3 times to get rid of the viable sperm and only after that end up with 1-2 weeks of infertility.
  - giantg2 5y ago
    The links to data in other comments suggests a treatment would take about 2 weeks to become effective (rid the system of existing viable sperm), then last approximately 6 months. Although, if you look at the graphs/numbers it seems there still are a small number of motile sperm (looks to me like approximately 50% reduction in count with 20% motility). Seems like it doesn't completely eliminate the possibility of pregnancy.
clarkevans 5y ago
Even so, providing direct control of fertility by a male partner is an important problem. Currently, the only control option that permits unprotected sex is a vasectomy -- this is expensive, requires many months, and is not always reversible. On the female side there is the UID and hormonal interventions -- both of which have downsides for the female partner.
- dingdongbing 5y ago
  Why is it an important problem? We have hormonal and non-hormonal UIDs, many different types of pills, rings, and not to mention _condoms_ which actually prevents STDs. I don't have a problem with other guys heating their balls up, but where is the important problem?
  - elif 5y ago
    Women with health complications and healthy partners, women concerned about future fertility, etc.
    - collegeburner 5y ago
      Uhh Id be concerned about this for the same reason, do we know the effects of repeatedly microwaving my balls on cancer and future fertility (both ability to get a woman pregnant and rate of birth defects)?
  - clarkevans 5y ago
    Why must women must be the ones that compromise by having a medical intervention? Don't they also have the right to be "squeamish" about having an IUD or their hormones altered?
    - dingdongbing 5y ago
      Use condoms. >don't they get the right to be squeamish about having an IUD or their hormones altered? IUD exist without any hormones, and taking hormones generally are safe and extemely well tested. Saying "hormones altered" shows your bias, and you don't think blasting your balls with heat "alters" your hormones? Certainly men who get vasectomies produce less testosterone.
vidarh 5y ago
The pill can feel like gambling too. Yet lots of people rely on it, either in isolation or combined with another method. It may well be that people feel like it's gambling on its own but still end up finding value in it combined with the pill or with condoms or both long before people feel confident about relying on it on its own.
dgfitz 5y ago
> First, men a notoriously squeamish when it comes to their testicles. That's quite an inaccurate blanket statement. > Second, I'd expect the ultrasound to hurt. Ultrasound treatments are actually used to treat pain. Maybe you have evidence of ultrasounds causing pain, but I can't find anything of the sort. > Third, it will feel like gambling as the female partner doesn't really know whether all sperm is killed or whether she will end up pregnant. Unprotected sex is always gambling, for BOTH parties, not just the female.
- iSnow 5y ago
  >Maybe you have evidence of ultrasounds causing pain Anecdotally, I had an ultrasound years ago and it was most certainly uncomfortable. The body of the testicles was fine, but moving over the epididymis wasn't that great. And no, no inflammation or anything.
- giantg2 5y ago
  Testicular ultrasound can hurt, but usually it's only an issue if there's an existing issue like infection or torsion.
collegeburner 5y ago
Yeah I physically cringed when I heard this, idk if I'd ever be able to make myself do it. Just stick to condoms.

by iSnow 5y ago

giantg2 5y ago

4th, there's no data about return of fertility in humans after longterm use and if it raises birth defects.

iSnow 5y ago
And 5th, I have no idea how long sperm remains viable in the prostate, but I imagine that you would have to ultrasound your balls regularly or end up with live swimmers in a very unpredictable way. I'd imagine you'd destroy them and maybe their precursors, then have protected sex for 2-3 times to get rid of the viable sperm and only after that end up with 1-2 weeks of infertility.
- giantg2 5y ago
  The links to data in other comments suggests a treatment would take about 2 weeks to become effective (rid the system of existing viable sperm), then last approximately 6 months. Although, if you look at the graphs/numbers it seems there still are a small number of motile sperm (looks to me like approximately 50% reduction in count with 20% motility). Seems like it doesn't completely eliminate the possibility of pregnancy.

clarkevans 5y ago

Even so, providing direct control of fertility by a male partner is an important problem. Currently, the only control option that permits unprotected sex is a vasectomy -- this is expensive, requires many months, and is not always reversible. On the female side there is the UID and hormonal interventions -- both of which have downsides for the female partner.

dingdongbing 5y ago
Why is it an important problem? We have hormonal and non-hormonal UIDs, many different types of pills, rings, and not to mention _condoms_ which actually prevents STDs. I don't have a problem with other guys heating their balls up, but where is the important problem?
- elif 5y ago
  Women with health complications and healthy partners, women concerned about future fertility, etc.
  - collegeburner 5y ago
    Uhh Id be concerned about this for the same reason, do we know the effects of repeatedly microwaving my balls on cancer and future fertility (both ability to get a woman pregnant and rate of birth defects)?
- clarkevans 5y ago
  Why must women must be the ones that compromise by having a medical intervention? Don't they also have the right to be "squeamish" about having an IUD or their hormones altered?
  - dingdongbing 5y ago
    Use condoms. >don't they get the right to be squeamish about having an IUD or their hormones altered? IUD exist without any hormones, and taking hormones generally are safe and extemely well tested. Saying "hormones altered" shows your bias, and you don't think blasting your balls with heat "alters" your hormones? Certainly men who get vasectomies produce less testosterone.

vidarh 5y ago

The pill can feel like gambling too. Yet lots of people rely on it, either in isolation or combined with another method. It may well be that people feel like it's gambling on its own but still end up finding value in it combined with the pill or with condoms or both long before people feel confident about relying on it on its own.

dgfitz 5y ago

> First, men a notoriously squeamish when it comes to their testicles. That's quite an inaccurate blanket statement. > Second, I'd expect the ultrasound to hurt. Ultrasound treatments are actually used to treat pain. Maybe you have evidence of ultrasounds causing pain, but I can't find anything of the sort. > Third, it will feel like gambling as the female partner doesn't really know whether all sperm is killed or whether she will end up pregnant. Unprotected sex is always gambling, for BOTH parties, not just the female.

iSnow 5y ago
>Maybe you have evidence of ultrasounds causing pain Anecdotally, I had an ultrasound years ago and it was most certainly uncomfortable. The body of the testicles was fine, but moving over the epididymis wasn't that great. And no, no inflammation or anything.
giantg2 5y ago
Testicular ultrasound can hurt, but usually it's only an issue if there's an existing issue like infection or torsion.

collegeburner 5y ago

Yeah I physically cringed when I heard this, idk if I'd ever be able to make myself do it. Just stick to condoms.