Research centre’s world first

Epworth Freemasons made global headlines, with a new male contraceptive trialled in East Melbourne, through the E.J. Whitten Prostate Cancer Research Centre program.

The EMF-funded research centre was the first in the world to implant the new hydrogel contraceptive, as part of the ADAM study.

Centre director Professor Nathan Lawrentschuk is the study principal investigator and says, “the three-year study will investigate whether the hydrogel is successful as a non-permanent, long lasting male contraceptive.”

The hydrogel is inserted into the vas deferens (tubes that carry sperm) to block sperm travelling from the testes, to act like a temporary vasectomy.

“If it is successful, it could be a game-changer, ensuring that contraception is a shared responsibility between couples,” Prof Lawrentschuk says.