Let’s hear it for birth control via soundwaves

Published on Monday 30 January 2012 00:00

As BIRTH control methods go, it sounds like one of the more extreme examples, but a study suggests blasting a man’s most vulnerable area with high frequency sound waves may be the ideal form of contraception.

Scientists conducted experiments which showed that ultrasound effectively cut sperm counts in rats. The equivalent outcome would result in reversible infertility in humans.

Study leader Dr James Tsuruta, from the University of North Carolina, US, said: “Unlike humans, rats remain fertile even with extremely low sperm counts. However, our non- invasive ultrasound treatment reduced sperm reserves in rats far below levels normally seen in fertile men.

“Further studies are required to determine how long the contraceptive effect lasts and if it is safe to use multiple times.”

The perfect male contraceptive would be cheap, reliable, reversible, long-acting and have few side effects. The ultrasonic “sperm zapping” treatment appears to tick those boxes.