Traditionally, the only methods of birth control for men have been vasectomies and condoms, but a Los Angeles-based health startup wants to change that.
NEXT Life Sciences is pioneering Plan A, which involves men visiting a doctor for 10 minutes and receiving an injection of hydrogel into the vas deferens, the 30-centimetre tubes that transport sperm.
Once injected, the hydrogel transforms into a semi-solid, thick, sticky substance that filters sperm from semen during ejaculation and remains effective for 10 years, the company says.
“It's all juice, not seeds,” LR Fox, 29, founder and CEO of NEXT Life Sciences, told the Post.
Men who want to reverse this process and unblock sperm flow can see their doctor for an injection of sodium bicarbonate, which dissolves the hydrogel.
Fox told the Post the process is designed to be “quick, safe and easy.”
He said he expects demand for Plan A to increase because condoms are not always effective in preventing pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.
Fox also cited research showing that women claim their sexual satisfaction is compromised by their partner's condom use.
He said men between the ages of 18 and 45 are ideal customers because they are more likely to say, “I don't want kids right now, but I might want them in the future.”
“The big demand we're seeing is from young professionals who are in committed relationships,” Fox told the Post.
He said Plan A is a safer and fairer alternative. [of contraception] That applies squarely to women. ”
Women's birth control methods, from oral contraceptives to hormone therapy, can pose health risks to women.
Fox said these factors are “people looking for Plan A.”
He said there has been a surge in interest in the treatment, which is in the process of gaining approval from the Food and Drug Administration.
“We created a high-urgency list and thousands of men responded, saying why they should be among the first to receive Plan A when it comes to market,” Fox said.
He said he expects Plan A to be available to men within two years.
When asked about costs, Fox declined to provide specific numbers. He said NEXT Life Sciences will ensure that the treatment is “available” and that “everyone who needs Plan A can get Plan A.”
“The need for safe and effective contraception permeates every segment of society and every corner of the planet,” Fox said.
