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Researchers identify candidates to help speed up time to vasectomy success

Two chemicals already commonly used in the medical field also effectively
inhibit sperm function, a new study confirms. This makes them good
candidates to both inhibit and help wash away residual sperm after a
vasectomy, which could decrease the time between vasectomy and sterility.

To identify potential irrigants of the vas deferens, or compounds used to
inhibit and flush away the residual sperm, a small team of researchers from
Family Health International and the CONRAD program at the Eastern Virginia
Medical School in Norfolk, VA, tested the ability of five different
chemicals to inhibit sperm function. A chemical called diltiazem -- a
calcium-channel blocker commonly used to treat high blood pressure and chest
pain -- showed the most promise. After just 15 minutes, diltiazem killed
about 85 percent of the sperm and completely inhibited all sperm motility
and ability to penetrate cervical mucus. The second promising chemical is a
common surgical dye called methylene blue. While it did not kill sperm as
effectively as diltiazem, it completely inhibited sperm motility after two
hours and completely blocked penetration of cervical mucus after only 15
minutes.

Identification and evaluation of an effective vas irrigant might enable a
man to become sterile immediately after vasectomy. But even with vas
irrigation, some surgeons might still recommend the current three-month
waiting period before confirming vasectomy success, because of the small
chance that the two ends of the vas deferens severed during vasectomy will
spontaneously reconnect. To read more, see
http://www.fhi.org/en/gen/releases/newsrel6.html
<http://www.fhi.org/en/gen/releases/newsrel6.html> .

Wood BL, Doncel GF, Reddy PR, Sokal DC. Effect of diltiazem and methylene
blue on human sperm motility, viability and cervical mucus penetration:
potential use as vas irrigants at the time of vasectomy. Contraception
2003;67(3):241-45.

David Hock
Senior Information Projects Coordinator
Family Health International
e-mail: [log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]>

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