Male Birth Control Pill - Could be coming soon

[ronandannette]

I can understand that viewpoint but it's probably the same amount of men who believe at the magical moment that the women you are speaking of are on birth control.

My point being is that issue of not getting pregnant wouldn't be confined to women believing men took their birth control given that presently men rely on women being honest about taking birth control at the magical moment.

They absolutely DO NOT have to. Condom use is pretty much 100% within the control of any man and while maybe not completely foolproof, at least it puts the onus of responsibility where it should be if a man is truly serious about preventing pregnancy.

 

[jevs]

They absolutely DO NOT have to. Condom use is pretty much 100% within the control of any man and while maybe not completely foolproof, at least it puts the onus of responsibility where it should be if a man is truly serious about preventing pregnancy.

Men and women would be mad NOT to insist on condom use regardless of who is on birth control pills, outside a committed relationship anyway.

 

[Pacolovestacos]

They absolutely DO NOT have to. Condom use is pretty much 100% within the control of any man and while maybe not completely foolproof, at least it puts the onus of responsibility where it should be if a man is truly serious about preventing pregnancy.

I would venture to say that many people in committed relationships aren't using condoms if the woman is actively using a form of birth control. So the person you responded to wasn't wrong about men relying on the woman if she says she's on BC. It's an accurate statement. Sure the man could still wrap up but the sex isn't near as good so I'm not sure why they would.

 

[mom2rtk]

Like it or not, the odds of successfully preventing one egg from developing seem a whole lot better than the odds of preventing millions of sperm from developing.

I understand why men would want another option. That said, I would never trust the safety or efficacy of a treatment like this in its early development.

 

[Klayfish]

Men don't really need a high level of testosterone. They've been brainwashed into thinking it makes them "Manly" but that's just centuries of aggressive behavior talking.

Total nonsense. No, men don't need ragingly high levels, but it's an important chemical balance for us. I agree that a stigma is there and it's capitalized on, but it's not all fiction by any stretch. Nothing to do with "brainwashing" and everything to do with science.

I agree that it's not necessarily a womans' "job" to handle the birth control aspect. There are options for men, just not a pill.

 

[Hikergirl]

Men don't really need a high level of testosterone. They've been brainwashed into thinking it makes them "Manly" but that's just centuries of aggressive behavior talking. The funny thing is - when men claim women get all PMS before their periods, it's really when our estrogen is low, and our testosterone is more evident. It's when we are the most "Manly".

I'm all for men having multiple options for preventing pregnancy. Let them take some risks and have some side effects.

Are you a man being treated for low T?
I don't think you really know what you are talking about here.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

They absolutely DO NOT have to. Condom use is pretty much 100% within the control of any man and while maybe not completely foolproof, at least it puts the onus of responsibility where it should be if a man is truly serious about preventing pregnancy.

I'm sorry you took my comment that way but that's not at all what I was referring to.

The topic of this thread is male birth control not about other methods of preventing pregnancy such as condoms or the more riskier pull out method. A poster said "What woman would believe a man was REALLY on birth control? At the magical moment, they'll tell you anything!" (the other poster was not (edited: directly) referring to condoms in their conversation either) and my comment was in direct reference to that. Plus another poster responded about women having more risks (to which I would assume they mean because they are the ones who would actually get pregnant).

I'm not talking about using condoms nor do I honestly think my comment could have been construed as speaking towards that . I'm talking strictly about male birth control. If I was speaking about preventing pregnancy by any means then condoms would come into the conversation.

 

[GreatLakes]

Like it or not, the odds of successfully preventing one egg from developing seem a whole lot better than the odds of preventing millions of sperm from developing.

I understand why men would want another option. That said, I would never trust the safety or efficacy of a treatment like this in its early development.

This and I would not take anything that lowers my Testosterone. I wouldn't voluntarily take any medication that messed with any hormone levels. I suspect many men feel the same but I'm all for more options.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

Vasectomy is so much better and without hormones.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I would venture to say that many people in committed relationships aren't using condoms if the woman is actively using a form of birth control. So the person you responded to wasn't wrong about men relying on the woman if she says she's on BC. It's an accurate statement. Sure the man could still wrap up but the sex isn't near as good so I'm not sure why they would.

I won't comment on the 'wrapping up' aspect of your comment but yes ultimately I'm just talking about two people who choose to have sex without condoms.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Vasectomy is so much better and without hormones.

Vasectomy is also fairly permanent (and I would venture that it's the same issue of not wanting to go that far--just like a woman getting her tubes tied can be a huge decision) so if you're not planning on having more children in the future that's an option (though not 100% effective) but it wouldn't be ideal for the vast majority of the situations in which it is a relatively temporary desire to prevent pregnancy. Taking birth control for women right now isn't seen as a permanent way to prevent pregnancy (tubes tied or hysterectomy would be). It's seen as a way to tempoararily do that. So would male birth control.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

Vasectomy is also fairly permanent (and I would venture that it's the same issue of not wanting to go that far--just like a woman getting her tubes tied can be a huge decision) so if you're not planning on having more children in the future that's an option (though not 100% effective) but it wouldn't be ideal for the vast majority of the situations in which it is a relatively temporary desire to prevent pregnancy. Taking birth control for women right now isn't seen as a permanent way to prevent pregnancy (tubes tied or hysterectomy would be). It's seen as a way to tempoararily do that. So would male birth control.

Very true. It's early and I didn't even think about it being permanent. lol

I personally would probably never tie by tubes just because it's an invasive procedure. A vasectomy is done in the office with local or MAC anesthesia. It truly is such a simple procedure. But both are very hard to reverse. I worked with a urologist that had one of the best reverse success rates in the country. We had patient's come in from all over the country to get the reversal surgery done with him. Even then it wasn't always successful and you must pay fully out of pocket.

 

[Klayfish]

Vasectomy is so much better and without hormones.

Hey now, let's not go to extremes here...

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Very true. It's early and I didn't even think about it being permanent. lol

I personally would probably never tie by tubes just because it's an invasive procedure. A vasectomy is done in the office with local or MAC anesthesia. It truly is such a simple procedure. But both are very hard to reverse. I worked with a urologist that had one of the best reverse success rates in the country. We had patient's come in from all over the country to get the reversal surgery done with him. Even then it wasn't always successful and you must pay fully out of pocket.

I don't know whether it's funny or not but we were watching the news last week and they were talking about that during March Madness vasectomy procedures rise, some doctors even going so far as to give discounts, because the procedure time and how you recover is just so that you can be at home quick enough..watching tv lol.

I hear you on the tubal ligation. It would be a bit easier just to ask my husband when that time comes to do a vasectomy but I'm sure just like he understands concerns I would have with getting my tubes tied when that time comes I understand his concerns with vasectomy. My mom had her tubes tied and sings its praises lol.

 

[FairestOfThemAll37]

I just hope all this talk of male birth control options and the hormones and side effects raises awareness in general and maybe makes way for better options all around.

Women have felt with the side effects of hormonal birth control since it came about but it gave women a lot more freedom over their own reproductive choices so the pros often outweighed the cons.

It’s one of those things now that seems one of those “just the way it is” things that most women just expect or are just expected to deal with. It’s interesting (not really, it’s totally predictable) that the side effects and hormonal changes are front and center when discussing men’s birth control.

 

[jevs]

It’s one of those things now that seems one of those “just the way it is” things that most women just expect or are just expected to deal with. It’s interesting (not really, it’s totally predictable) that the side effects and hormonal changes are front and center when discussing men’s birth control.

Spot on.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

Let’s be real. If men could get pregnant the birth control pill would be OTC, there would be Drive by abortion clinics (abortion being illegal would never even be a topic) and paternity leave would be two years. And you could get an epidural the day of conception.

 

[Hikergirl]

It’s one of those things now that seems one of those “just the way it is” things that most women just expect or are just expected to deal with. It’s interesting (not really, it’s totally predictable) that the side effects and hormonal changes are front and center when discussing men’s birth control.

As a woman I have no problem dealing with it, and I happily accept being responsible for my own birth control, since I'd be the one giving birth. Unless one opts for surgery there really isn't a way to control the reproductive system without hormones, so yes that is just the way it is.
I wasn't around when BC pills came out for women, were the side effects and hormonal changes not front and center then?

 

[jevs]

Let’s be real. If men could get pregnant the birth control pill would be OTC, there would be Drive by abortion clinics (abortion being illegal would never even be a topic) and paternity leave would be two years. And you could get an epidural the day of conception.

Funny but sadly true.

 

[LSUmiss]

This and I would not take anything that lowers my Testosterone. I wouldn't voluntarily take any medication that messed with any hormone levels. I suspect many men feel the same but I'm all for more options.

I think you’re right that it won’t appeal to men & I guess that’s the part the bugs me so much. What do men think we have been doing for years?? We have been voluntarily taking meds that mess with our hormones for years...not to mention all the other side effects.