THE 30-SECOND METHOD
PREAMBLE
Thermal contraception by testicular ascent (CTRT) is a non-hormonal, reversible, reliable, and comfortable male contraceptive method that adapts to everyday life.
PRINCIPLE
TRT involves mechanically raising the testicles above the scrotum. Their temperature then increases, approaching that of the rest of the body: 37°C. At this temperature, sperm production is impaired, and fertility decreases. If this action is performed daily, fertility decreases sufficiently to achieve contraception. To understand the method, the protocol, and the 'why', read on.
EFFICIENCY
Its effectiveness has been documented by initial clinical trials and user surveys: when thermal contraception is applied according to the established medical protocol, its practical effectiveness is comparable to that of the most effective female contraceptives. These results will need to be confirmed in larger-scale studies.
A simple spermogram can be used to verify its success at the individual level.
USES
The CTRT is for anyone with mature, fertile testicles who is having sex with partners who have mature, fertile ovaries and does not want these sexual encounters to lead to pregnancy.
The CTRT: natural, reversible contraception validated by initial clinical studies.
WHY THIS CONTRACEPTIVE METHOD?
AN INEQUITABLE CONTRACEPTIVE LANDSCAPE, INSUFFICIENTLY EFFECTIVE PRACTICES
Today, the majority of the contraceptive burden falls on women. In reality: undesirable side effects, hormonal solutions, invasive and restrictive methods, and imperfect solutions... In numbers: each year, 2,500 cardiovascular accidents are caused by the pill.
There is also a certain ineffectiveness in our contraceptive practices: 1/3 of pregnancies are unplanned, and 2/3 of unplanned pregnancies occur despite the use of contraception. To conceive, it takes two, so why not manage contraception together?
A GROWING UNMET DEMAND
On the other side of the spectrum, there is a limited range of male contraception options. Today, only two contraception methods are available to men: condoms and vasectomy. One is not very spontaneous and not very effective, the other is permanent.
Handmade devices (rings, hand-sewn jockstraps) are used by men to implement thermal contraception through testicular ascent, but are not recognized by health authorities. However, in France, more than 10,000 men already use reversible contraception with these devices. The need is urgent, the knowledge is there.
ONE WAY TO SHARE THE CONTRACEPTIVE BURDEN
What if broadening choices, by offering a reliable male contraceptive solution that fits into daily life, could rebalance the burden of contraception and revolutionize heterosexual relationships? What if contraception was one of the starting points towards a society where intimacy is equitable, fluid, and free from gender norms?
HOW DOES CTRT WORK?
CTRT IN DETAIL
Testicles must be kept at a temperature lower than the rest of the body, around 33-35°C, to produce sperm. By raising them above the scrotum, their temperature increases to around 37°C. A few degrees that change everything. At this temperature, sperm production is impaired. By warming the testicles daily in this way, it is possible to lower the sperm count enough so that the sperm is no longer fertile. No hormones, no surgery, no side effects. A mechanical, reversible action, the success of which can be easily measured with a spermogram.
Today, the dissemination of this contraceptive practice relies mainly on associative networks and user communities.
See the map of associations and collectives or make an individual appointment with Otoko.
IMPLEMENTATION PROTOCOL
For the method to be effective, it is necessary to strictly adhere to the protocol.
- Before starting your contraceptive journey, a consultation with a doctor will verify that the method is suitable for your body, your health, and your contraceptive plan.
- It is then advisable to perform a baseline spermogram, which establishes an initial assessment of your spermatogenesis. This initial image will serve as a point of comparison for future assessments.
- You can now begin wearing your device, 15 hours a day, daily. Breaks are possible, as long as the total wear time is at least 15 hours per 24-hour period. Please note, at this stage, you are not contracepted.
- After 3 months of rigorous wear, a spermogram will confirm that contraception is effective. It should indicate a concentration of less than 1 million spermatozoa/ml of semen. As long as this spermogram has not confirmed contraception, the user should not consider themselves contracepted and must use another form of contraception (condom, pill, IUD, etc.).
- Long-term follow-up by a doctor. Because intimate matters are not approximate. Daily wearing of the device must be continued for as long as contraception is desired.
If you wish to regain your fertility, simply stop wearing the device, and it will return within a few months. The return to fertility must be confirmed by a spermogram. After stopping wear, and before confirmation of the return to fertility, the user must use another form of contraception (condom, pill, IUD, etc.).
Thermal contraception is not a simple one-time action: it is a method built over time, with healthcare professionals, regular checks, and a precise usage protocol. Each phase exists to guarantee two essential things: the effectiveness and safety of the user and their partner. Consult your doctor for advice.
How to use exploration boxer 37.0?
3D
DEVELOPMENT OF THE CTRT: BACKGROUND
THE WORK OF DR. MIEUSSET AND ARDECOM
Before labs, there were men. In the 1970s, a movement emerged, with support groups where men questioned their roles, desires, privileges... and their contraceptive responsibility. From these discussions, sometimes painful, often liberating, the Association for Research and Development of Male Contraception (ARDECOM) was born. An association that paved the way. Their conviction? Intimate equity is also built through action.
In the 1980s, Dr. Mieusset, an andrologist at the Toulouse University Hospital, demonstrated the principle of TRT. Publications began to appear, data was confirmed, and the method worked. This pioneering work carried out between Dr. Mieusset and ARDECOM led to the development of elastic underwear which, worn daily, can provide contraception for anyone with testicles. This was the birth of the "remonte-couilles toulousain" (Toulouse testicle-lifter), also called the "heating brief" (although it doesn't heat, but lifts the testicles).
Through ongoing research, they demonstrated its reliability and reversibility, established a precise protocol, and defined safe conditions of use. This method has been the subject of studies conducted on over 1,000 participants. Since then, and still today, knowledge in andrology and male fertility continues to advance, confirming and refining the initial recommendations. To date, it is estimated that over 10,000 people use this method in France.
A DEFINED PROTOCOL
Daily duration, sperm concentration threshold, time needed to be contracepted, wearing time, reversibility time: all parameters that clinical trials have precisely and rigorously defined.
THOREM, ANDROSWITCH AND HOME-MADE DEVICES
Various devices have emerged in recent years, often handcrafted. Throughout France, associations offer DIY workshops and awareness campaigns: Thomas Boulou (Brittany), GARCON (Toulouse), Zéro Millions (Paris), Treizeticules (Marseille), and many other local collectives. These communities keep this knowledge alive. They explain, sew, and weave an essential network.
In 2018, the androswitch, a silicone ring manufactured by Thoreme, was marketed online, accelerating the method's growth. In 2021, the ANSM requested a halt to its commercialization, as no CE marking had been obtained, but the seed was planted - users had embraced this method to control their fertility.
THE 37 DEGREES DEVICE: EVERY DAY, FROM MORNING TO NIGHT
PROJECT ORIGINS
37 degrés aims to bridge the gap between medical innovation, scientific expertise, fashion items, and simple integration into users' lives.
To learn more about the project's origins, visit our About Us page.
MEDICAL EXPERTISE FOR DAILY LIFE
A scientific advisory board supports every stage of development, from prototype to clinical trial. A soft and adjustable annular structure, a transverse pocket facilitating insertion, precise retention in the body at 37°C, and ergonomics designed to accompany movement: each element meets a strictly defined functional requirement.
More than just a medical device, the 37.1 boxer by 37 degrees is also a piece of men's clothing: a contemporary, understated, elegant, comfortable boxer – designed to naturally integrate into life and its fluctuations. It slips on in seconds, adjusts with a single movement, and can be worn all day. The adjustment system allows for custom support based on body shape and activity. Male contraception, finally in the 21st century.