Shenzhen's family planning authority plans to promote a new technique in birth control surgery for men once the method is made available to the public next year.

The method, developed by Chinese doctors, involves making a small incision along the testicle, into which doctors place a tiny tube.

"The tube functions as a filter that blocks sperm," Wu Weixiong, director of Guangzhou Family Planning Technology Center, said.

The technique, which is reversible by simply taking out the tube, has been patented and is awaiting approval from the State Food and Drug Administration.

"The success rate for this form of birth control is 97 percent," said Zhu Jiaming, vice president of the Guangzhou Sexology Association.

Wu said the operation takes just 10 minutes, but it is very difficult and requires highly skilled doctors.

The technique was developed through more than 1,600 clinical trials all over the country. More than 500 men in Qingyuan in Guangdong Province have already undergone the surgery.

None of the persons operated on has experienced any side effects to date.

Zhu said most people in China can afford the operation.

"When the technique is available, couples will have one more option for birth control, and married women do not have to install an intrauterine device (IUD) anymore," he said.

The new method has been hailed by many Shenzhen women, saying it shows more respect to women.

However, a random survey of 12 men conducted by the Southern Metropolis Daily showed that only two men were willing to have the surgery done. The others said they would never use the method because they felt it was unacceptable for men to undergo the surgery, and also, they did not trust it.
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(Shenzhen Daily November 16, 2007)