Shenzhen's family planning authority plans to promote a new
technique in birth control surgery for men once the method is made
available to the public next year.
The method, developed by Chinese doctors, involves making a
small incision along the testicle, into which doctors place a tiny
tube.
"The tube functions as a filter that blocks sperm," Wu Weixiong,
director of Guangzhou Family Planning Technology Center, said.
The technique, which is reversible by simply taking out the
tube, has been patented and is awaiting approval from the State
Food and Drug Administration.
"The success rate for this form of birth control is 97 percent,"
said Zhu Jiaming, vice president of the Guangzhou Sexology
Association.
Wu said the operation takes just 10 minutes, but it is very
difficult and requires highly skilled doctors.
The technique was developed through more than 1,600 clinical
trials all over the country. More than 500 men in Qingyuan in
Guangdong Province have already undergone the surgery.
None of the persons operated on has experienced any side effects
to date.
Zhu said most people in China can afford the operation.
"When the technique is available, couples will have one more
option for birth control, and married women do not have to install
an intrauterine device (IUD) anymore," he said.
The new method has been hailed by many Shenzhen women, saying it
shows more respect to women.
However, a random survey of 12 men conducted by the Southern
Metropolis Daily showed that only two men were willing to have
the surgery done. The others said they would never use the method
because they felt it was unacceptable for men to undergo the
surgery, and also, they did not trust it.
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(Shenzhen Daily November 16, 2007)