Implant provides less intrusive male contraceptive

Made from PEEK-OPTIMA - a polymer that is regularly used to manufacture implants - the so-called Bimek SLV is surgically inserted into the spermatic ducts during a half-hour operation. Once implanted, the switch can be felt through the skin of the scrotum and physically flipped in order to open or close the flow of sperm.

The device is inserted into the vas deferens as a blockade of sorts. When the switch is in the open position, sperm is able to pass through the vas deferens – the duct that conveys sperm from the testicle to the urethra – before exiting the penis via the urethra. However, when the switch is flicked to the closed position, sperm is blocked from passing through, therefore eliminating the possibility of pregnancy arising from sexual intercourse.

According to the manufacturer’s website, the Bimek SLV is preferable to other contraceptive techniques, such as having a vasectomy, wearing a condom or using the female pill, since it offers a solution to many of the drawbacks pertaining to these options. For instance, it provides greater flexibility than a vasectomy, enabling users to control their own ability to impregnate their partner rather than permanently disabling this. Also, unlike condoms or pills, it cannot be forgotten, since it is constantly present within the user.

The device itself is 18mm long and weighs just 2g, with Bimek himself having already become the first person to receive the implant. A clinical trial involving 25 volunteers is now set to begin, in order to test the safety and efficacy of the product.

According to the Telegraph, some experts have raised concerns over the use of the implant for contraceptive purposes. For instance, Wolfgang Buhmann, spokesperson for the Professional Association of German Urologists, has explained that “the valve could cause scarring where it meets the vas deferens,” which could then block the flow of sperm even when the switch is open.