You're listening to Shortwave from NPR.

Hey Shortwaveers, Emily Quang here with Scientists and Residents Regina Barber, one of my favorite

people. Hello Regina.

Oh, thank you. Hey, Emma. I actually want to share with you a story of sperm stopping

science in Seattle. And why we don't have more male contraception on the market.

I want to know the answer to this question very badly.

So let's talk about it and let's talk about sex. Let's talk about sex, but let's talk

about Philip Shaw's sex life back in 2019. He was part of clinical trials at the University

of Washington to test a new male contraceptive.

It was underground at the UW medical campus that they have there. I had to go like literally

underground.

So he would visit the campus roughly once a month for his sperm levels to be checked. But

this study was for couples. So his girlfriend now wife was also part of the study. Cool.

What did they have to do? Well, Philip had a keep a record of his moods.

I had to basically review my day like how I felt was I sad, was I angry, did I feel ill.

So I had to be very introspective. But I did not have to write some racy sex journal

like my wife had to. So the researchers divvied up the labor of chronically in their life

during the study. And his girlfriend at the time wife now had to log with the ad sex.

Interesting. Okay. And what kind of contraception was part of this study?

The kind of male contraception used in this study is a gel like that you apply like a

lotion. It's clear and it has the consistency of hand sanitizer.

So it was this gel that I would rub on my shoulders, both shoulders once a day.

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