It’s been tried before but nothing met the safety or effectiveness like women’s birth control methods. The main problem with male contraception was whether men would even use it. Let’s face it, most men assume women will take care of that stuff.
But now there seems to be some interest that men would use birth control, as long as it is reversible and safe with few side effects.
Well, good luck with that.
Currently men can choose from condoms or a vasectomy. Condoms are still the best method in my opinion, considering there are no side effects unless you have an allergy to latex (although lambskin is available). Condoms prevent pregnancy and most sexually transmitted diseases (STD’s).
Of course they are not perfect, but lets think of what women have to go through. Birth control side effects for women include anything from headaches, irritability, depression, bloating, weight gain, irregular bleeding and no sex drive when using hormone contraception. And then there’s cramping, spotting, bleeding, and possible perforation of the uterus if a women chooses an IUD.
Diaphragms and cervical caps are available and have some of the same inconvenience as condoms, but they have few side effects.
It looks like hormone implants, gels and creams are the first to be looked at for male contraception. The hormones being studied (testosterone and progestin) work by inhibiting sperm production. There are still questions about the long-term side effects and why they don’t work for all men.
Male contraception pills are also being researched.
Of course women will have to trust that their partner is actually taking his pills. The advantage with an implant is that you can visibly see it.
Maybe some men will be open to trying something that someday goes on the market, but you still need something to prevent STD’s.
For now, women have more to lose if they have an unexpected pregnancy. So women, please stay on your birth control method. And if you’re not using condoms, start.
Scientific Advances on Contraceptive for Men – NYTimes.com: “”
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