Modern medicine has developed a variety of contraceptive methods that women can use to control when they get pregnant. IUDs provide nearly flawless contraception, and a range of pills and patches have been developed for a variety of female contraceptive needs. While men frequently seek methods of controlling their own fertility, little development has been done to this end. While a few contraceptives are available overseas (RISUG has limited availability in India), the only contraceptive available to men in the United States and Britain is the condom.
For hundreds of years, scientists have noted that a man's ability to get a woman pregnant decreases if his testes (balls) are exposed to high temperatures. During the industrial revolution, it was common for men who worked in the boiler rooms of steam ships would not get women pregnant while on short leaves. They did not start to have children until they had been out of the service for a year or so. Dr. Martha Voegeli used this and similar knowledge to conduct more than a decade of contraceptive research in India. She found that men who sat in shallow 116F hot water baths for 45 minutes per day for 21 days would become infertile for 6 months. You can use the same method to reduce the risk of causing a pregnancy.
Temperature & duration of sterility according to Dr. Voegeli's work
107F - 2-5 months
110F - 4-7 months
116F - 6-8 months
* It was noted the duration of infertility may be up to 2 months shorter in cases where initial sperm counts are extremely high. In such cases, 107F may give no protection, 110F may give 2-5 months and 116F may give 4-6 months of protection.
BEFORE STARTING ANY MALE CONTRACEPTIVE, STORE SAMPLES OF YOUR SPERM WITH AN ACCREDITED STORAGE FACILITY.
TESTICULAR HEATING MAY REDUCE THE RISK OF PREGNANCY, BUT IT WILL NOT PREVENT STDs SUCH AS HIV, THE VIRUS THAT CAUSES AIDS.
THIS METHOD IS NOT APPROVED BY THE FDA, MRHA OR ANY OTHER GOVERNMENT/MEDICAL BODY. IT IS BODY MODIFICATION AND IS DONE AT YOUR OWN RISK.
DO NOT USE HIGHER TEMPERATURES IN AN ATTEMPT TO GET BETTER/FASTER RESULTS, OR BECAUSE YOU MISSED A DAY. YOU COULD CAUSE PERMANENT HARM.
IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT YOU ALLOW YOUR SPERM COUNT TO REACH NORMAL ONCE A YEAR.
TESTICULAR HEATING IS NOT GUARANTEED TO PREVENT PREGNANCY. IT SHOULD NOT BE USED AS A SOLE METHOD OF CONTRACEPTION. IT IS COMPLETELY AT YOUR OWN RISK.
BECAUSE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF TESTICULAR HEATING AS A CONTRACEPTIVE METHOD VARIES BY INDIVIDUAL, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU TRACK YOUR SPERM COUNT BEFORE, DURING AND AFTER TREATMENT.
Materials & Equipment
- Microscope, slides, slide covers and an eyedropper
- Chair
- Box or table about 8 inches lower than chair
- Two towels
- Cup with digital temperature control. One example product which is readily available online is the "Stainless Steel Smart Mug with Temperature Control" model "PI-170".
- Cigarette lighter-to-wall adapter capable of delivering at least 5A (or 60W). The recommended cup has a 12V adapter intended for use with a car cigarette lighter, but you will want to plug it in at home. If the adapter cannot deliver 5A/60W, it may turn off during use. One example product is the "Pyramid PS9KX 5A/7A Power Supply with Cigarette Lighter Plug".
- Extra cup of warm water for topping up
- Stopwatch (counts minutes)
- TV remote or video game console
- Beer & water (for drinking)
Counting Sperm
You can calculate sperm count using a slide with a known depth and rulings (http://www.fertilityformen.com/info_spermcounting.php). One example of a simple kit for this purpose is the "Micra Sperm Test for Sperm Count and Mobility". It consists of an inexpensive microscope with slides of known depth and a grid where sperm can be counted. The diluent that comes with the Micra kit often evaporates before it reaches the end user. You can perform sperm counts without diluent; 44 sperm in the 4 large diamonds (16 small diamonds) is equivalent to approximately 1 million sperm per milliliter. Fewer than 10 million sperm/mL is considered to be abnornally low. For reference, a vasectomy is generally considered to be successful if the sperm count is less than 1 million / milliliter.
To perform a sperm count (example using the Micra kit):
1) Ejaculate into the clean, dry plastic jar
2) Wait 30-45 minutes; the appearance of the semen should change from milky to clear
3) Use the clean, dry eyedropper to place a semen sample on the slide; cover it with a slide cover
4) Focus until you can see sperm. You should always see something; if you see nothing at all, you are out of focus
5) Count the sperm in your view or marker. Record the total number of sperm, as well as those that are moving/not moving. Average the results of at least 6 locations.
Daily routine (for 21 consecutive days)
1) Prepare a comfortable location where you can access beer, water and the TV remote without getting up. The table or box that you use to hold the cup should be pushed up against the chair and the chair itself should be one that you can comfortably sit on the edge of.
2) Put one towel each under the cup (for spills) and chair (for yourself)
3) Fill the cup with water nearly to the brim.
4) Set the temperature on the cup to 105 degrees Farenheit. Let the temperature reach or approach this target.
5) Sit on the edge of the chair with your testicles dangling in the cup of hot water. Some water will spill on the towel; use your top-up water to top-up the cup.
6) Once you have become acclimated, set the temperature of the cup to 116 degrees Farenheit.
DO NOT USE A TEMPERATURE ABOVE 116 FARENHEIT IN AN ATTEMPT TO GET BETTER/FASTER RESULTS.
YOU SHOULD NOT FEEL PAIN. IF YOU FEEL PAIN, STOP AND DISCONTINUE THIS APPROACH.
7) Once the temperature readout on the cup reaches 115 degrees Farenheit (one degree below the target temperature), start the timer.
8) Remain seated with your testicles in the cup for 45 minutes. Have a beer. If you shift positions and this causes water to spill, use your top-up supply to top-up the cup.
9) Remember to use this precise regimen. Do not use a shorter heating time or skip a day. On the other side, do not attempt to use a hotter temperature.
DO NOT SKIP DAYS OR REDUCE TIMES FOR CONVENIENCE. IF YOU DO, YOU RUN A HIGHER RISK THAT THE METHOD WILL NOT WORK.
10) Testicular heating should not be used as a sole method of contraception. It should be used only when there is another effective method (such as an IUD) believed to be in place.
It has been suggested that an additional 7-day treatment every two months will extend this method's effectiveness, but this has not yet been confirmed.
Other approaches to achieving the desired heat characteristics such as use of microwaveable or electric hot water pads, and use of hot water without a temperature controller have been attempted. While they have had some effect, they have not been as good as the method described above. Avoiding changes to the method shown can keep you from reinventing the wheel and reduce the risk of an unwanted pregnancy.
References
Primary:
Vogeli, M (1954) “Data on the thermic method for temporary male sterilization.” Unpublished. Smith College Archives.
Vogeli, M (1956) “Contraception through temporary male sterilization.” Unpublished. Smith College Archives.
www.fatherhoodbychoice.com
Secondary:
Robinson, D, and J Rock (1968) “Control of human spermatogenesis by induced changes of intrascrotal temperature.” Journal of the American Medical Association 204(4): 80-7.
Steinberger, E, and WJ Dixon (1959) “Some observations on the effect of heat on the testicular germinal epithelium.” Fertility and Sterility 10(6): 578-95.
Thonneau, P, L Bujan, L Multigner and R Mieusset (1998) “Occupational heat exposure and male fertility: a review.” Human Reproduction 13(8): 2122–5.
Walston, WT (1991) “Male contraceptive device.” US Patent # 5,063,939.
Watanabe, A (1959) “The effect of heat on the human spermatogenesis.” American Journal of Medical Science 10: 101-17.
This file is copyright 2011. It may be reproduced in its entirety, without modification and distributed worldwide free of charge.
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