A new contraceptive device invented by a German inventor that can control men's sperm with the flick of a switch could possibly replace vasectomy if ever proven safe and effective. The device called, Bimek SLV, is designed to control men's sperm with just a flick of a switch.
By just switching the on/ off button it can stop the sperm from reaching the penis, making the user temporarily infertile or it can switch back, allowing the user to ejaculate. The valve which weighs about 2 grams and 1.8 cm long is implanted in the spermatic ducts and the surgical procedure will take about half an hour to insert. Once inside, the contraceptive device will be controlled by a switch, which can be located easily by hand beneath the skin of the scrotum.
According to the device's website, once the valve is inside the human body, it can prevent the sperm cells from leaving the testicles by just turning on the switch and if the wearer ever decides to have a child he can just simply turn off the switch to restore the fertility.
So far, only one man has decided to have this device be implanted in him, and it is Clemens Bimek, the man who invented it. He underwent the procedure under local anaesthetic and has one for each testicle.
He said the idea first came to his mind 20 years ago while watching a documentary about vasectomy and was inspired to invent something to prevent pregnancy that will eventually revolutionize contraception.
As of the moment, he has 25 volunteers to be implanted with the valve. The trials will start this year.
However, health experts are divided over Bimek's invention. Many of them were concern about its potential effectiveness.
Dr Wolfgang Bühmann, spokesman for the Society of German Urologists said as per Daily Mail, "I believe that the implantation of this valve could lead to scar tissue building up in the seminal ducts." He said that using the valve could possibly cause long term infertility.
