Male Contraception Soon a Reality
Researchers now say that a safe and effective male contraceptive could be available
in the next 3-5 years. Options that may soon arrive in the market include a pill to be taken orally, a patch or gel applied to the skin, and an injection given every three months.
What’s that we hear? A chorus of hallelujahs spreading through the iVillage boards?
Many iVillagers, like
member sandybryant, say it''s about time there was a male option for birth
control: “A male birth control method that is more effective than condoms, and less permanent than a vasectomy is LONG overdue.
take more proactive measures to prevent unwanted pregnancies.” Member cl-clabk agrees, adding that it presents more options to both single men and women: “This will have a big impact on the younger generation. I hear so many women say that they don’t use condoms because their partners don’t like them. This would be an alternative to the condom for contraception purposes, but still put some responsibility on the man instead of only on the woman.”
Even our iVillage guy members, such as martinisnsushi, say they would love the option of a male contraceptive: “Had such a thing been available when I was single, I would have been all over it, as would most of my friends. We all knew horror stories about casual relationships unexpectedly requiring the marriage/abortion/paternity suit/fatherhood decision, and would have loved to have been one step closer to avoiding that in case she forgot to take her pill, had a complication, or the condom broke.”
There''s a strong consensus among married couples as well. Member tina_n_madison says that with a male birth control pill, husbands will be finally able to "do their part": “Men should be able to protect themselves and not have to rely on the woman. I don''t want to take a pill everyday. I went through two pregnancies, all the doctors visits, 2 C-sections, and the recovery. It''s time my husband took care of the prevention part.”
But can women really trust their partners to take a birth control pill regularly?
Members, like apaprikao, think their husbands'' “forgetfulness” can be a problem: “Personally I wouldn''t be able to trust my husband to remember to take it every day. I still have to remind him to take his vitamin, take out the overflowing trash can, and fold the overwhelming pile of dirty laundry.” Member danid also questions men’s commitment to taking on such a responsibility, especially because they’re not the ones who actually get pregnant: “The real test will be to see how many men will take the initiative to (1) make and keep the regular doctor’s appointments in order to get the contraceptive (2) keep the medication refilled and paid for and (3) live with any negative side effects that occur. We''ll have to see who the real men are when/if this type of product become available."
Members also foresee other problems with male birth control. Says martinsushi: “The one thing I would worry about is the possibility that people would forget about STDs and forego condoms for casual sex.”