If men want more control over their reproductive destiny, why don't they push for the male pill?

Question

I read an article related to a book a few years back written on the subject of the deveIopment of the male birth control pill. It said that a big reason there hasn't been as much progress as was expected many years ago is that people didn't believe men were interested in using a male birth control pill.

I hear a lot of men complaining that they don't have as much control over their reproductive destiny as women, because women have the say when it comes to abortion. If men are really interested in gaining more control over their role in reproduction, and having more reliable means of preventing pregnancy, why don't they stand up and make it clear that they would be interested in a pill? It would certainly provide them more security than condoms, and if used together, they'd have a pretty good chance of preventing pregnancy.

Jason- you want the right to have a child? Er...I don't think it's anyone's fault that you can't become pregnant and give birth on your own. You can potentially adopt, though. What are you saying, you should have the right to demand a woman become pregnant for you so you can have a child?

Portwine- that is a very good question! I'll try to look into it myself. I'm heading to the book store soon, maybe I can find that book, and it'll shed some light on how we might go about finally getting a male bith control pill. I do think it's a shame that men don't have the myriad of options women have when it comes to birth control.

Jesus Christ, Jason. She clearly knows how to spell "advocate." It's a play on words. She's combined the word "advocate" with the french feminine suffix "ette."

And by the way, you do have options if you want to have a child on your own. You can adopt, or buy eggs from a donor and pay for a surrogate to carry the child to term. It's the same options infertile women have.

Whaler: I can understand what you're saying. But I think people would take your arguments a little more seriously if you seemed as devoted to being able to more adequately prevent pregnancy, as much as having more say after it occurs. That's really the essence of my question- if you're worried about an unwanted pregnancies and what that will mean for you, why not also push for the means to be able to take more personal responsibility for your reproductive destiny BEFORE you get someone pregnant?

Answer 1

What's the point of a male BCP? Would any woman believe a guy who said "It's OK baby, I'm on the pill"?

Answer 2

There is no 100% birth control method.

Also, when it comes to parenting - it takes 2. 2 to conceive, 2 to take it to term, 2 to raise the child.

Women take the pill. OK - that is a woman essentially declaring she is not interested in having a child or perhaps is wanting to regulate her cycle. Both of these seem to be perfectly rational reasons for a woman to take the pill.

Also, both woman and men insist on or refuse to use condoms. That choice is an individual choice that has potential consequences.

For condoms, there is more at stake than birth control. For condoms, its also to limit the spread of disease. Informed people (both genders) know this. Notice how I said limit rather than prevent... both with birth control and disease.

Next we have the male pill... For a moment, before we discuss it, lets take disease out of it because when it comes to 'the pill', male or female, it doesn't prevent disease from spreading so it is therefore all about birth control.

That said, there are two reasons to use a condom: birth control and to limit the likelyhood of disease spreading.

There are two reasons to take the pill if you are a women: birth control AND regulating the menstrual cycle.

On the other hand, there is but one reason for a man to take a male pill: birth control.

Having said that, does that mean that if a man were to be on the male pill that he, if his pill... and a condom insisted on by bth parties... and her pill... failed, that the man would have an equal if not greater say in what happens with the pregnancy both parties were clearly taking steps to prevent?

I doubt the man would have any more say than they do now, which, since its two parties only involved, is either all or nothing.

I understand that a woman goes through a clearly high amount of risk in many different ways for the term of the pregnancy, but lets not ignore that the same is true for the man for 18+ years after the baby is born.

Considering the law, medicine, biological reality, etc.,... there is no easy, fair answer. The issue simply cannot be made into a 50/50 equal partnership issue with 50/50 splits of all responsibilities. It would be great if that were possible, but the fact is it isn't possible - nature leans one way and the law leans the other.

I'm not trying to imply that the law or nature is somehow wrong, merely saying that in a way, there is a balance of sorts already.

Its not like the male pill is any more or less necessary from a birth control standpoint that permanent surgery for either gender. Both are imperfect and have failed in fact - just like the more mundane methods.

In the end, it seems that its a self perpetuating situation where there isn't demand because there isn't much awareness or motivation. Men aren't going to be able to use the same arguments to gain support or avoid responcibility for something they actively avoided any more than they are now are they?

The law, if not society, looks at unwanted pregnancy as either a mistake on the part of the woman or fault on the part of the man.

If that's the situation, why bother consuming a drug without a known long tern history when the result is the same when it fails?

I consider that faulty logic, but humans (both genders) don't think logically about emotional topics and parenting, regardless your thoughts, is clearly and certainly, an emotional topic.

Answer 3

I found this article that was published this month about male birth control that could be available in many forms in the next 1-3 years in other countries, 5-7 years in the US, after FDA approval:

Male birth control pill soon a reality:
Implants, patches and creams also on the way:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3543478/

I think it's fantastic. Now men who worry about pregnancy can take birth control, and don't have to worry about pregnancy when their condoms break. They'll have total control over their reproduction, and if they forget to take their pill, then guess who's getting blamed for pregnancy now? They'll also find out what it's like dealing with hormonal changes and the side-effects of taking birth control as well. Sounds fair to me. There shouldn't be any reason for a man blaming a woman for "getting" pregnant again.

Answer 4

What a great question! I have read similar material on the the subject of male birth control options: currently, the market research findings conclude that men simply aren't interested in sufficient numbers to warrant product development. In fact, many men would prefer for their spouse to undergo invasive surgery in the form of tubal ligation - with all the inherent risks of complication (both short term AND long-term) rather than to have a vasectomy (can be performed right at the doc's office, general anaesthetic not required). Things are changing - slowly - the better educated the men, the more likely they are to opt for vasectomy. Why haven't men heard of the 'Vasclamp' - which is entirely reversible? Because men - in general - aren't interested. Your observation is bang-on the mark: there are fewer male cntraceptive products and services available because there is NO market. This is the case with ALL products and services: no market, no sales, no product development.

EDIT: Shivers
I believe that Viagra was an accidental 'discovery. The drug was being developed for an entirely different purpose, and reseachers just happend to stumble accross a 'better' use for the drug. Often drugs are developed for one purpose, but are prescribed for 'off label' use for unrelated purposes. Sometimes too - as in the case of Viagra - drugs are found to be useless for treating one malady, but useful for treating another. But you are correct about the aggressive MARKETING of Viagra - it's any pharmaceutical company's dream product. How long is a US drug patent good for? 18 years or so (can't remember exactly).

Answer 5

I don't think there are enough men interested in a male pill and I don't think that is going to change any time soon. Men, for the most part, want to take the easiest way out of things and leaving birth control up to the girl is the easiest thing to do. That was if she gets pregnant it is HER fault for not using protection. If men really wanted to take responsibilty they could use a condom. Most of the men that complain about being a father didn't bother to use any protection.

Answer 6

So where do I sign up for this? Where can I vote for this?

Btw... Ozone therapy has been found to be crazily effective at curing cancer, fungal, bacterial, and viral infections (Italy uses it in HIV treatment), and there has been a HUGE push by the blood banks to use ozone to purify blood supplies, because of the crunch, and the stuff is 100% effective for blood purification. It's used in swimming pools and water treatment, and the 'air ionizers' are, in fact, ozone scrubbers.

The FDA has deemed it illegal to sell or promote ozone machines or ozone therapies for medical purposes. Why? Because without expensive, long, and often useless procedures like radiation and chemo, the insurance and medical industries would lose bigga dolla.

The availability of efficient medical drugs and treatments is a big issue in our country. Pfizer and Smith-Kline-Beecham love Viagra and the oh so pervasive anti-depressants because they are essentially expensive recreational drugs that get subsidized by the insurance industry.

Also... have you heard of this Yaz? Female birth control that doesn't play hell with your hormones AND offers relief from the insanity that is PMS (or as they call it now, PMDD). Just like bi-polar is last decade's manic depression.

But, yes, I would like a male birth control pill. Combine any two methods, and you're practically guaranteed to stay baby-free. STD's are another matter, but, I think, has far, far more to do with your casual selection of partners. I mean, that kind of testing is free. Hit a clinic before you get jiggy, and know for sure. If your sexual relations are too all over the place to make that a 100% safety, you need to look at your practices.

Answer 7

Honestly? The sort of men who would take a male pill are probably fairly responsible, in a relationship, and have a good understanding of the sacrifices required of parents. They are likely to be the type who discuss birth control before having sex with a woman.

The kind of guys on here who whine about not being able to control a woman's body after pregnancy occurs are generally not too responsible, not in a relationship, and have zero understanding of parenting. .....They live in fear that a one-night stand that they had unsafe sex with a few weeks ago will someday present them with a child and an order for support. They care not for the child or the woman, but only for themselves. If they were in a relationship, they would know what birth control she was using and how she feels about abortion. But they aren't, clearly.

Answer 8

If I were a man, I think I would really be pushing for male birth control instead of relying only on the woman or condoms, but then condoms are pretty much male oriented (as they go on the penis) and in addition to protecting from pregnancy they also protect against many STD's that a pill might not take care of.

Answer 9

The key here is that people didn't BELIEVE men would be interested.

One has to inquire into the basis for this belief and whether it is accurate.

Certainly, having had a vasectomy at an early age, I would have been interested. But I don't know how widespread male interest would be.

But I suspect that the men who complain about alleged unfairnesses in reproductive choice are often just looking for something to complain about.

Answer 10

Here's an article about hormonal contraceptives for men:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3543478/

Trials may begin in the U.S. within 2 years. Apparently the reactions are mixed among men. Some men feel uncomfortable with idea of hormone injections. Ironic?

If I have any indication that my son is sexually active as a teenager, he's going on birth control. My only concern about this is that men will be less inclined to use condoms which are necessary to prevent STDS. I hope if this becomes widely available that doesn't drive a rise of AIDS and other stds.

Answer 11

the male birth control pill is in its testing stages now. But as of right now, it takes a special surgery in order for it to work. By women respecting the man's choice behind abortion is sort of like a husband getting a vasectomy instead of having the woman get her tubes tied. Its a utilitarian point of view but for the most part, I believe a man should have just as much say in abortion as the woman, because it takes 2 to create life, and should take 2 to decide whether they want to keep it or not

however, i understand if the guy is an utter douchebag, and the woman wants choice over it