A new gel-based vasectomy has proven effective in a group of monkeys, raising hopes it could one day provide a permanent but easily reversible male contraceptive option in humans. Vasalgel works by plugging the vas deferens, the two tiny tubes that convey sperm into a male's semen, researchers said. The gel "doesn't break down. It just sets up a little more, and sticks where you inject it," said lead researcher Catherine VandeVoort. She's a professor of obstetrics and gynecology with the University of California, Davis School of Medicine. Sixteen male rhesus macaque monkeys injected with the non-hormonal gel have proven incapable of reproduction, according to the study findings.

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No females have become pregnant in the males' presence, even though they were housed together for at least one breeding season -- about 6 months. "We're over two years in a lot of these males we injected with this, and so far they've all remained infertile," said VandeVoort. "We know that because we check the parentage of every baby that's born at the primate center." VandeVoort is also a scientist with the California National Primate Research Center at UC Davis. Traditional vasectomies either sever, crush or tie off the vas deferens, causing tissue damage that can be difficult to reverse, VandeVoort said. But researchers hope to revise the Vasalgel plug to the point where a simple solution of water and baking soda would flush it out of the vas deferens, easily restoring a man's fertility, said study co-author Elaine Lissner.

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The gel plug has been successfully flushed out of male rabbits in animal testing, but reversibility has not yet been perfected in primates, said Lissner, founder and trustee of the Parsemus Foundation, the nonprofit group funding development of the gel. The focus of the current study was to see whether Vasalgel would effectively prevent conception, Lissner and VandeVoort said. "This tells us whatever challenges we face, the bottom line is it has worked and been safe in animals similar to humans," Lissner said. The Parsemus Foundation, based in Berkeley, Calif., funded the primate study. Source: http://www.webmd.com/men/news/20170207/a-plug-instead-of-a-snip-for-male-birth-control

Monday, May 4, 2026

Fluoxetine For Depression: Benefits, Dosage, And Safety

When a person is diagnosed with depression or seeks relief from it, selecting the most appropriate medication requires weighing multiple factors: the severity of symptoms, the patient's age and health history, and whether other medications are already being taken. A thoughtful treatment choice improves outcomes and reduces unnecessary side effects. Antidepressant medications have been central to depression treatment for decades. The first antidepressants developed, the monoamine oxidase inhibitors and tricyclic antidepressants, were effective but had significant side effect profiles that limited their use. The introduction of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors in the 1980s represented a major advance, offering comparable efficacy with substantially improved tolerability. Today there are multiple antidepressant classes available, allowing treatment to be tailored to the individual patient's needs and tolerability. Among the medications available for antidepressant medications, Fluoxetine provides a well-studied option that many patients discuss with their doctors. The clinical evidence supporting fluoxetine for depression shows that it can be effective for managing this condition when used appropriately under medical supervision. Fluoxetine contains the active ingredient fluoxetine, which works by acting on the biological pathways responsible for producing the symptoms associated with depression. Understanding the mechanism helps patients appreciate why consistent use is often more effective than taking it only when symptoms become severe, as maintaining steady levels allows for more stable control. Patients managing depression long-term should keep regular follow-up appointments to assess whether their treatment plan is still the best fit for their situation. As conditions change and new evidence emerges, treatment adjustments may be worthwhile. The antidepressant medications resource section provides a helpful reference for staying current on medication options in this area.
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