Voegeli's method usually describes sitting in a tub of hot water for
45 minutes a day for 21 days. "Hot" usually is given as 116F.
However, Voegeli's paper says that lower temperatures work too.
Voegeli found that different temperatures gave sterility for
different time periods. 107F gave sterility for 2 to 5 months. 110F
gave sterility for 4 to 7 months. 116F gave sterility for 6 months
up to a maximum of 8 months, although a man with an abnormally high
sperm count would be made sterile for only 4 months.

I used the Voegeli hot bath method, and my experience is a lot like
Sean's except that I drew water into a bath tub. First, I drew one
tubfull to get my body and the tub hot, then I drained it and drew
another tubfull. The temperature at this point would be about 115
degree F as measured with a common outdoor thermometer. The water
temperature would go down as time passed, usually down to about 107F
after around 3/4 hour. If it seemed that the water temperature was
going down too fast, then I would drain some water and add more hot
water. Because I could only guarantee that the water temperature
remained above 107F, I did the bath everyday, which was very time
consuming. Another thing is you have to drink LOTS of water,
otherwise you will get badly dehydrated.

I had no way of measuring how sterile the hot baths made me, and I
used condoms also. I relied on the fact that Voegeli had protocols
with test results. I do not know about testosterone levels changing,
but I never had anything suggestive of impotence, which is what I
think you were asking about in your first message.

I liked the hot bath method because the idea of surgically modifying
my body for contraception did not appeal to me, and I was worried
about surgical complications, and the autoimmune/cancer concern
seemed a very real possibility. But I eventually had to have a
vasectomy anyway because things in my life developed so that I just
could not afford the time that the hot baths consumed. I asked about
autoimmune issues on this forum, messages 163, 167, and I got some
reassuring information.

I used the hot bath method for 2 1/2 years and never had any accident
while I was using it. I think that it is a valuable method which,
when used with an understanding of its limitations, will help to
avoid a lot of unplanned pregnancies among men who choose not to have
a vasectomy. However, in Bill Gifford's Men's Health article, May
2003, he gives some frightening numbers. Approximately 33% of all
pregnancies in the U.S. are out of wedlock, apparently oopses. When
you consider that most of these oopses lead to marriage and
additional children, it becomes apparent that most women who have
children had at least one by an out of wedlock oops. An article that
I saw on Yahoo a few weeks ago indicates that the percentages of out
of wedlock pregnancies is rising, now at around 35%, I think. Bill
Gifford's article says that in about 30% of paternity tests, the
tested man turns out not to be the father. I actually missed the out
of wedlock number when Bill's article was published, and I only
became aware of this situation by the Yahoo news report. It shocked
me. Hopefully, RISUG will be available within our lifetimes so that
men will not have to choose between a likely oops and possible
autoimmune risks of vasectomy. All things considered, though, I am
happy that I did not continue to press my luck. I have been fixed
for a year and a half, and I like it.

Be sure to let us know how you make out with your hot bath experience.

jp

--- In malecontraceptives@yahoogroups.com, "lka5250" <lka5250@y...>
wrote:
>
> I am still wondering if testicular heating affects testosterone
levels
> (not a desired effect). And if any readers have used Dr. Vogelies
> suggested time,temp,and 21 day duration for heating method? All
> additional info would be appriciated.
> thanks
>