We hear it all the time in commercials. Side effects may include blood clots, stroke, or heart attack. Women over 35 should not smoke, as smoking increases these risks.
The birth control pill (as we know today) has only been around since the 80's. Do you think there's enough long-term research of it to warrant its use on such a wide scale? Do you think the benefits are worth the major risks (other risks include weight loss/gain, nausea/vomitting, and depression)? Do you think science should work towards making some sort of male contraceptive medication?
2006-07-30 15:42:13 · 11 answers · asked by Andrea 4 in Health ➔ Women's Health
Edit: You're right, sorry. I didn't mean "have" to take them. No one has to take anything they don't want to. So, what do you think about birth control pills, let's say, as opposed to condoms which pose less health risk, but maybe aren't as effective?
2006-07-30 15:56:24 · update #1
Sure the pill carries some risks, although the risks are actually a lot lower than the risk of pregnancy (yes, pregnancy does harm and even kill women, even with modern medicine!). And the pill carries some benefits beyond preventing unwanted pregnancy, including decreased risk of ovarian and uterine cancer, decreased PMS and cramping, treating acne, treating dysfunctional uterine bleeding, etc. Whether the risks outweigh the benefits is an individual choice that a woman should make after a discussion with her doctor.
As far as a male contraceptive, millions of dollars have been poured into research, and there's a researcher at Norfolk State University who claims to be about 85% of the way to developing a safe, effective "male pill." Time will tell if the research pays off...
2006-07-30 15:54:54 · answer #1 · answered by Eric 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Home > Sexuality > Questions & Answers on Sex > Male Birth Control Pill
Male Birth Control Pill, Enemas & More
By Donald Zimmer
Sexual Health Advisor - Every 2nd Wednesday
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we want the pill
I read an article about a male contraceptive pill. Where can I get this? Where can I find out more about it?
Ben
Hi Ben,
A male contraceptive pill has been in the works for more than three decades now. What's taking so long? Well, from a scientific standpoint, a male pill is much more difficult to develop than the female version. After all, to achieve birth control in a woman, one only need block one egg a month. To do the same in a man would require shutting down each and every of the roughly 100 million sperm that are produced a day. Furthermore, this high degree of effectiveness would have to be achieved with minimal side effects.
In spite of such obstacles, the pharmaceutical industry has been pursuing a male contraceptive aggressively in recent years, driven by the knowledge that men account for nearly a third of the market (even though women have a much wider range of options).
With the recent announcement that the National Institute of Child Health and Development will be assisting federal agencies and drug companies in this field of development, many now expect to see a male pill on the market in the next five years
2006-07-30 16:02:11 · answer #2 · answered by bettyboop 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Women are not forced to take birth control. Everyone is made aware of the risks associated with every medication before beginning it. No one has to take any medication if they do not want to.
Though there are risks included, they are very rare. It doesn't matter if only 1 person had a heart attack, it must still be listed as a side effect.
The benefits definantly outweigh other risks. I have gone from being very depressed and having extreme dysmenorrhea to being a happy woman, who doesn't have to deal with some of the most excrutiating pain every 28 days. I do not have N/V because of my meds, I have been on the meds for 5 years, and gained no weight, and I am happier now that I am taking them.
And to your last comment... science is making an oral contraceptive for males... it's not long before it will be out on the market.
2006-07-30 15:51:44 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think the Pill is probably one of the most brilliant inventions of all time. The chances of harmful side effects are so slim for a healthy female that it's nothing to be worried about - at least I don't think so. Ideally when you begin birth control, you should try to find a dosage that gives you NO side effects (like nausea, etc.). This may be a process of trial and error (it took me a couple years to find my match) but I think it's worth it. I feel great all around. I think that if hormonal birth control was SO BAD for us, it wouldn't have passed the FDA. I've heard that researchers are working on a male birth control pill, but I haven't heard any new information in a while.
2006-07-30 16:06:02 · answer #4 · answered by sparklediamant 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Good question! I have never taken birth control myself mainly for that reason. I want to have kids someday and I was always too afraid to mess things up or have some serious side effects, even though I'd love to take it for the skin benefits. ITA that there just hasn't been enough research on the long term effects, and I often wonder if some of them aren't related to breast cancer etc. And speaking of which, they now know that certain types of viruses that cause cancer are spread like STDs (ie cervical) so I don't think birth control is enough at all. Condoms seem to be the only semi-safe thing out there with the added caution of who you choose to sleep with.
2006-07-30 15:58:40 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I wouldn't trust MOST men to take a male contraceptive!
I only took the pill briefly I didn't like the side effects of hormonal birth control. We tried other things, the sponge (when it was out), condoms, minipill (progesterone only), contraceptive foam, withdrawal & fertility awareness method and I got pregnant on all of them. Withdrawal is a particularly ineffective method by the way!
If I had to vote for the worst, most dangerous side effect ridden unknown birth control method I would vote for Depo Provera. At least the pill is only day to day, you can just stop taking it and within a day or two its' effects are gone.
2006-07-30 16:09:55 · answer #6 · answered by BabyRN 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
NO WAY!!! I did depo for a while and it tore up my body. It is so unnatural for your body. I don't use any kind of unnatural birth control anymore, unless you count a condom as unnatural. Some say it spoils the mood, but the hormones in birth control can give you wicked mood swings worse than anything. I don't think males should have a medicated birth control either.
2006-07-30 15:51:55 · answer #7 · answered by cas_anderson 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
that should be a good suggestion. whether, i could be weary appropriate to the toxicity of the medicine. some women die as a effect of start administration use with the aid of fact of nasty area consequences...those pills could be and are risky each so often, as they are very poisonous and each and each physique responds in yet in a distinctive thank you to them. i anticipate it could be the comparable with adult adult males...
2016-11-03 08:27:46 · answer #8 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Who says they "have to take birth control"? Try natural family planning. Or, gee .... even self control! (abstinence)
2006-07-30 15:48:58 · answer #9 · answered by brunchbuddy 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yeah, but there are also potentially deadly risks involved with pregnancy as well...
2006-07-30 15:51:02 · answer #10 · answered by Lauren C.: Led-head 4 (∞) 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋