Promising news on male contraception. Unfortunately, we may never see it here in the US because the pharmeceutical companies won't be able to make any money off of a treatment that lasts for 10 years (as compared to the money they make selling women "the pill" every month).

RISUG is the newest technology of the potential vas occlusion methods. This contraceptive has completed Phase I and II clinical trials in India. Our research has convinced us that RISUG (formerly called SMA) is the most promising of the potential male contraceptives.

RISUG stands for Reversible Inhibition of Sperm Under Guidance, and is composed of a styrene malic anhydride (SMA) complexed with the solvent DMSO. RISUG has two contraceptive effects: partial blockage of the vas and molecular-level electrical charges. The positive and negative charge mosaic on RISUG's surface causes the membranes of passing sperm to rupture, rendering them incapable of fertilizing an egg.

Because RISUG does not completely block the flow of sperm through the vas deferens, it appears to have fewer of the negative side effects associated with vasectomies.

A single injection of 60 milligrams of RISUG can provide contraception for up to 10 years and possibly beyond. Smaller doses provide shorter periods of contraception. RISUG is readily removable. The compound can be removed by flushing the vasa deferentia with an injected solvent, either DMSO or a sodium bicarbonate solution. The team researching RISUG is also working on a noninvasive reversal technique, which uses massage, vibration and low electrical current. They have even shown that multiple injections and reversals are effective in primates.

Also a more succinct story at http://www.uottawa.ca/services/markcom/news/2002/020226-2-e.html