Wednesday, July 9, 2008

"Like turning a TV on and off with a remote control"

Somehow I missed this article when it first came out in January.

I just found it this morning linked to the latest email from Planned Parenthood's Cecile Richards, who sang the praises of "new research" that "shows us just how far the tools of prevention and family planning have come":

Radio-controlled sperm 'tap' turns off vasectomies



A radio-controlled contraceptive implant that could control the flow of sperm from a man's testicles is being developed by scientists in Australia.

"It will be like turning a TV on and off with a remote control," added team founder Derek Abbott, "except that the remote will probably be locked away in your local doctor's office to safeguard against accidental pregnancy or potential misuse of the device."

To secure the device against accidental activation, the device works in a similar way to a car's remote key-fob. Each valve responds only to a radio-frequency signal with a unique code.


Gee, I don't see how that could lead to any problems.

Oh, wait:

One potential problem, however, is that after a while the valve may clog with protein and remain shut, rendering the man permanently infertile.


One wonders if the newfangled gadgetry carries it with the same increased risk of dementia—among others—as vasectomy does.

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