Looks like there is a need for volunteers for RISUG. More can be found by clicking here

The trial in India had a goal of 500 volunteers, and so far only 64 have signed up. For me this is just amazing. I have been trying to get RISUG for several years now, and so far have not been able to. If they will allow me to be part of the study, I will even pay for my plane ticket. Any other volunteers?

Lots of people waiting for RISUG

It looks like I am not the only one anticipating the arrival of RISUG anywhere in the world:

> we're just short of June now, I thought I'd ask how the update is
> coming?

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/malecontraceptives/message/212

and that was back in 2005!

They are going to keep us on pins and needles a bit longer it appears.

Detailed images of how Risug works

RISUG had many misteries when it was first introduced over 20 years ago. With better tools to analyze its functions we can see how it is able to do its things so well.

Here is a presentation by the founder of RISUG that is worth a look (sorry for the PDF)

http://www.assocham.org/nanobio2007/pres/Sujoy_K_Guha.pdf

It was nice to see it compared to the IUD that is very popular in many countries.

Where is it now?

And with emotion:

" RISUG is a criminally ignored invention, with world changing potential. Stuck in some malaise of testing for something like ten years."

http://www.peakoil.com/post581791.html

More on how it works

From this detailed description of how it removes fertility, it is also apparent it is something that can be developed in laboratories throughout the world:

"developed by our research group"

http://nanobiointerface.com/part.asp

 

It would be good to know if any similar substance is being used in any way in the world to speed up testing.

It is promising, just not in the US

Even though RISUG is being called:

"The most promising vas occlusion method"

http://www.femalepatient.com/html/arc/sig/contra/articles/030_06_028.asp

 

there is still very little being done to help bring it to the rest of the world. 

How does it work?

This is a good way to describe what it happening:

"[RISUG] caused significant damage to the acrosome and its contents, indicating loss of functional ability of sperm."

http://www.popline.org/docs/1508/273621.html

The gel that gets inserted is able to stop the sperm from functioning while still allowing it to go through. This is a big difference from Vasectomy where all the sperm is stuck inside and the male body starts a war with it. In the end a man's fertility is reduced due to the body fighting it and slowing production. This can have other side effects.

No money, mo'money

To make risug available in the US will require years and tons of money of testing before the FDA will approve it. It may be available in India within a year or two. Many men in the developed world will not have an option of using risug 'unless the guy wants to fly to India for a RISUG treatment.' - http://www.alternet.org/story/17432/?page=entire

Please add one round trip ticket to the cost of that risug. http://travel.travelocity.com/

How does it work

Studies to understand how it works were performed in recent years with newer technology than were previously available. Some of these studies have proven how in effect the sperm looses its ability to stay together. When this happens, it comes apart. 'The polyelectrolytic nature of this contraceptive induces a surface charge imbalance on sperm membrane system leading to its destabilization.' - http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1365-2818.2007.01795.x

Instead of blocking it and dealing with all the leakage issues, it allows it through after taking the sperms apart. The new plugs may include a small passage to allow some pressure relief, yet they would still require some kind of 'installation' method, nothing as simple as risug to be sure.

Just plug it

Several teams in China are working on a plug for the same results. 'The double plug design allows most sperm that get past the first plug to be stopped by the second.' - http://www.newmalecontraception.org/vas.htm

One issue they keep having is the solid plugs provide the same issues as a vasectomy - too much pressure and there will be leakage. 'That some sperm got through may seem discouraging. However, all of the men had sperm counts below the level generally considered to be fertile.' - http://www.newmalecontraception.org/vas.htm

Now that is a great way to plan birth control. Maybe they just need to make it bigger, and bigger and bigger. How are they going to get that thing in there?

Is $50 too much

Some are expecting Risug to cost a few hundreds:

'One little shot, an outpatient procedure, $500 -- and contraception would be covered for YEARS.' - http://valkyrierisen.vox.com/library/post/risug-lives.html

There are some estimates as low as $50 for a 10 year coverage. Either way the cost is nothing compared to the cost of having a birth - strange to compare birth control to birth costs when discussing human life. This would not be worth commenting on if there were realistic options available, and as long as surgery or hormone pills are the only options then this is a topic requiring discussion.

Don't touch me

Are the pharmaceutical companies the ones who have told us men don't want anyone messing around with their, well, you know? Consider how many men have been willing to get permanently fixed (over 60% of men over 45 in New Zealand). - http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6T5P-44C0H1W-F&_user=10&_rdoc=1&_fmt=&_orig=search&_sort=d&view=c&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=e2d85d51ee59da67fe5921e52b2f0af4

Think about it 'a simple injection into a region of a man's anatomy where he wouldn't usually let himself be injected can render him harmless for about 10 years.' - http://www.curioustimes.com/421.10.04.07.htm

Seems to like putting up with 15 minutes of a doctors time far outweighs the continuous challenges of birth control.

You mean, we can all feel normal about it?

How often have you wondered if the woman who just cut you off while driving might be getting unsafely influenced by some birth control pills?

'RISUG has no potential to affect human behavior' - http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node_id=1683397

'it would allow women in relationships with men to, if they desire, discontinue the use of birth control pills which may adversely affect their health and or behavior' - http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node_id=1683397

You would expect this to be on top of peoples minds then, and making headlines across the country.

This is the answer

When people start making comments like:

'From the consumers' point of view, RISUG could be a godsend during the approximately 30 years the average person spends trying not to cause a pregnancy.' - http://www.theologyweb.com/campus/showthread.php?t=9097

Then you know is it time to take note and listen. What do we need to do to get this to market?

This is the answer

When people start making comments like:

'From the consumers' point of view, RISUG could be a godsend during the approximately 30 years the average person spends trying not to cause a pregnancy.'

Then you know is it time to take note and listen. What do we need to do to get this to market?

Current state of Risug - great website

For those who are not yet familiar with what RISUG is, "Our research has convinced us that RISUG is the most promising of the potential male contraceptives" - http://www.malecontraceptives.org/methods/risug.php

So what are we waiting for?