Knowing that the drug interferes with sperm production, D'Cruz and his colleagues decided to investigate the spermicidal properties of various organic metal compounds. They found that compounds containing titanium, zirconium, molybdenum, or hafnium did not inactivate sperm, but 12 vanadium compounds did. The team is now testing vanadium compounds in animals. Henry Gabelnick of the Contraceptive Research and Development Program in Arlington, Va., points out that many spermicides are now being developed, including some that show antimicrobial action. Copyright 1998 by Science Service.
Family planning gets a shot in the arm.
Glazer, S. 1994. Birth control choices. Vergano, D. 1996. The trouble with condoms.