I was sitting around talking with my girlfriend, and we were having a discussion about all the different kinds of birth control that are out on the market, and how it can become at times a bit of a grueling task to find the right one for both us women and our bodies. “I wish it was the guys who had to take the birth control," I said to Brynn. In turn, she said, “I wonder...would they even want to take it when it does become available since it’s been the responsibility of the women for so long to be the one taking birth control?” I looked up from my pouring myself another glass of wine, and said “I’ll have to write about it, and get back to you on that”.
I’m sure you guys are thinking “Well, what about condoms? That’s our form of both control“. Sorry fellas let’s face it--condoms can break, and many of you don’t even wear them, and since vasectomies are permanent I don’t see guys lining up around the block for the procedure. So once again, it's left up to us women to be on some form of birth control. Women have had hormonal reversible contraceptive since the 60’s, and I feel that putting all the pressure on the female partner is hardly fair. However, a non-condom form of male contraceptive is already in development.
Associate Professor of Medicine, Dr. John Amory, who works at the University of Washington, is currently in the middle of clinical trials that are testing a combination of testosterone and progesterone through a gel. This study is also being conducted at UCLA. Amory’s study is looking into the effectiveness of a “gel-gel” approach--using two gels to suppress sperm production. One gel contains progesterone, and the other testosterone, and men would apply the gels once a day.
How does this work you ask? Before I answer that here’s a simple explanation of male fertility. For a man to make sperm the brain tells the pituitary glands, a pea-sized gland located at the base of the skull between the optic nerve, first to secrete two hormones which is LH and FSH. These two hormones in men affect the testes, signaling them to produce testosterone and sperm. The testosterone then gets into the bloodstream and goes back to the pituitary, which helps regulate its own production. This new gel approach that Amory is studying will basically boost the amount of testosterone in men’s bloodstream.
This is just one out of a couple of studies that are going on now for male contraception, and I ask you men, If male contraception hit the market tomorrow whether it be a gel, a pill, an implant, etc, would you go out and get yourself on birth control? Image Source Image Source
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Comments (34)
I'd hope so. Remembering to take the pill everyday at the same time is hard for me! Im just not a pill personal at all. I'd get an IUD but it's expensive and they tell me it's really only for women that have already had kids or are older.
Honestly, I wouldn't trust my boyfriend to do this every day. He's so forgetful. I can just see it: "Honey I'm late...
" "OH yeah, I forgot that was my job now!" Yeah.. not happening.
Even if the guy was taking the male contraceptive pill, I'd keep taking my pill. Two contraceptives are a better preventative than one.
I'll take the gel most definitely, but I'll still use the condom...unless if both of us get tested for HIV/STD's and we are negative and healthy.
Women want men to do this, which is fine but we won't because why, you still didn't tell me how a male gel contraceptive works.
I wouldn't just because I know I would forget, plus it would just become an unnecessary stress for myself.
I don't have an SO so bug off, the only person worth worrying about right now is myself so why complicate things if they don't need to be?
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Even if they do come up with a working male contraceptive, I would never stop taking my own pill just because at least then I know for sure that it's being taken every day at the same time. How many guys would really think twice about having sex even if they forgot to take their 'gel' that day..
I'd rather be responsible for my own birth control.
They've been saying it's on the way for years, and have had nothing to show for it. Until I see it, I won't believe it.
@KickDrumHeart@datingish - You can't BOTH be on the pill, plus continue to use other methods of contraception? That just makes sense to me.
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Besides, that's one of the most common arguments AGAINST a male birth control pill (Yes, there are people out there actually against it, I shit you not). I don't see why trusting a man to take his pill would any harder than trusting a women to take hers, especially with all of those "whoopsie" and "happy little accident" moments. I wouldn't consider women to be the sole ones responsible (to an extent) for BC, but it would make sense considering that they ARE the ones who get pregnant (meaning, I'd take more efforts to ensure I, myself would not get knocked up), and they're the ones who fought for the pill in the first place. Women aren't afraid that men wouldn't take their pill, their afraid they actually would.
If a birth control pill for men ever did make it to the market, guys would see it as the freakin' Holy Grail. Birth rates would plummet, and the Family Court system would implode upon itself with no duped dads left to fund it.
@kriskris92@xanga - As we all should.
I would use this WITH my birth control. It definitely make me feel better.
I'd want my boyfriend to take the pill. Never can be too careful.
Fuck yeah, as long as it didn't have any adverse side effects, BRING IT ON!
@shinoseishi@xanga - Yep.
if they came out with a pill or a monthly injection for men i would get it straight away if the the cost is reasonable compared to my gf taking the pill.
@Kazydai - Of course we can both be on it. But if the female birth control pill is already 99.9% effective, what's the point in spending more money for him to take a pill/use gel/whatever? If I didn't trust myself to remember to take my pill consistently, I would definitely consider us both using BC.
@KickDrumHeart@datingish - "Of course we can both be on it. But if the
female birth control pill is already 99.9% effective, what's the point
in spending more money for him to take a pill/use gel/whatever?"
Because now he can be just as responsible for his own birth control as you are with yours. And 99.9% doesn't matter when chicks purposely forget to take it. Not you, I'm speaking generally.
"If I
didn't trust myself to remember to take my pill consistently, I would
definitely consider us both using BC."
It's good that you take yours everyday, but I don't see the problem in a guy having the same option.
@Kazydai - I definitely see your point. If you don't trust your woman to take her pill, and you really don't want an accident, it makes perfect sense to get on male BC. There is no problem with a guy having that option.
I was commenting as it relates to my relationship, because I know my guy wouldn't remember to take it.
I really hope that they put a male form of birth control out there for real. My husband and I would most likely opt for that option.
This boosts your testosterone levels?
"Dude why are you so pumped up all the time?"
"IT'S MY BIRTH CONTROL!!! ARRRGGGGHHH!!!! GET TO THE CHOPPAAAAAA!!!"
I'm down. Sooooo down.
thats kina cool. but honestly i wouldnt rely on just that. if you want something done right, you gotta do it yourself
my boyfriend.. is the most forgetful person on earth.
I dont think I would trust him to take it although I would really like if he would take it instead of me.
I would take mine and he would take his. so we would be extra safe.
I'd take a pill, granted there's not side effects of cancer or blood in urine.
Unfortunately with most all pills nowadays, that isn't the case. Guess I'll continue to bust on busts and bellies.
not advocating too much. stay with condoms to prevent STDs and things esp. for the promicuous multiple sex partners
@tokyoexpressman@xanga - hahahaha! that made me lol
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