Vasalgel is currently being tested on great apes, who, after receiving the injection, copulate with as many as a dozen female apes. No pregnancies have resulted as of yet. The next step in the trial is to flush the chemical out with another needle. If, after the second injection, the apes are able to impregnate their paramour, this will show that Vasalgel is long lasting as well as reversible. That's one small shot in the scrotum, and a giant step forward for male birth control.
The cost of the injection, as well as insurance information, is yet to be determined, but I'd be willing to wager that men will have fewer problems getting their birth control covered than women do—essentially for the same reasons promiscuous men are celebrated while promiscuous women are shamed.
Obviously not all men will be gung-ho about taking a needle in their junk, but Vasalgel will be a good option for couples who want to avoid pregnancy without using condoms. The CDC reports that condom use is way down among teenagers—by almost 50%. If you've got a teenage boy who can't resist the urge to get busy, a single shot that provides a decade of contraception may be a great way to go. True, this method won't prevent STDs, but having an additional option for birth control is certainly a positive thing. (For more contraceptive advice and options for the dudes, read Guys, You're Not Off the Hook When it Comes to Birth Control.)
