Bambi Eloriaga-Amago
Choosing whether or not to have kids can be as easy as flipping a switch, at least according to one German inventor.
Clemens Bimek, a German carpenter, has developed a new form of male contraceptive called the Bimek SLV. It is a switch that is surgically implanted above the testicles to control the flow of sperm.
Specifically, the switch is implanted within the vas deferens—the gland that transports sperm from the testicles to the urethra—to act as a blockade for sperm. The Bimek SLV has an on and off switch, which a person can physically flip through the skin of the scrotum.
The device is made from a polymer that is regularly used to create implants, it is 18 mm long and weighs only two grams. A few urologists, however, have raised concerns over the implant. Wolfgang Buhmann, a spokesperson for the Professional Association of German Urologists, has explained that regardless of whether the device is switched on or off, it could cause blockage in the flow of sperm as “the valve could cause scarring where it meets the vas deferens.”
Nevertheless, Bimek insists that his implant switch is a preferable option over vasectomy and other current forms of contraception, such as condoms and birth control pills. The Bimek SLV gives the man the option of choosing when to impregnate their partner. Whereas vasectomy, the surgical procedure wherein the vas deferens is severed and sealed to prevent the flow of sperm, is permanent and therefore, irreversible should the patient change his mind later on about having kids. Taking a contraceptive pill, meanwhile, can be quite tedious and there is a possibility of skipping or forgetting to take the pill on certain days.
Bimek has already secured a patent for the Bimek SLV and is currently awaiting clinical trials before the product can be released into the market.
