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By Citizen Reporter

Journalist


This device heats your testicles to prevent pregnancy

If you want to take the responsibility of birth control on your own shoulders, teabagging your way to (temporary) infertility could be an option.


While there are various contraceptive methods available on the market for women, men often have to trust that their partner has taken the precautionary measures to prevent pregnancy.

Sure, men can take the safety into their own hands by wearing a condom, but if there was an alternative method, apart from getting a permanent vasectomy, which would really allow you to feel your partner skin-on-skin, would you consider it?

A German design graduate could just give men a little more power in this regard, should you be brave enough to give it a try.

ALSO READ: Younger men being diagnosed with prostate cancer

Rebecca Weiss designed a device she calls “Coso”, which is described as an ultrasound-based, reversible and hormone-free male contraceptive device for home use.

So, how exactly would this process work you might wonder?

Weiss explains that when using the device, a man would need to spread his legs, take their testicles and place them inside the device (filled with water), and then heat it to the required temperature. Your testicles are then hit with ultrasound for several minutes to suppress the spermatogenesis. Your doctor would need to be involved the first time around before you can do this exercise at home.

Testicle bath - Coso
Picture: The James Dyson Award

This isn’t the first-time ultrasound has been considered as a male contraceptive option. Scientists already considered this in 1977 for cats, dogs, monkeys and humans.

IFL Science reports that the results of the study indicated that ultrasound significantly suppresses spermatogenesis according to the dosage and frequency of treatment, without any effect on Leydig cells or blood testosterone levels in both treated animals as well as human patients.

Weiss’s device won the German James Dyson Award recently, an international award that celebrates design and engineering. Her innovation will now be facing off against other countries’ winners to fight for the ultimate top spot.

While this testicle bath is not available to try just yet, Weiss now plans to test the feasibility of her device and raise funds for clinical trials.

Compiled by Xanet Scheepers

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