Men on the pill

We’ve been talking about a men’s birth control pill as a reality for the last few years. Many women have been dreaming about it for a lot longer. Today, it’s closer than you think.

And with 13-80% of men (depending on country and study) interested in taking it, the timing is perfect. The pill will be made of testosterone and progestin and for birth control prevention will replace the condom handily. They will work like a female birth control pill by lowering hormone levels to a point that discourages development of sperm and there is not conducive to pregnancy.

Almost 100% of the men tested saw successful results. The pills come with some caveats and won’t work for everyone. They react unfavorably with alcohol, for instance.

Women have had the birth control pill available for over 40 years and have controlled their fertility for that long. The pill and other birth control methods have evolved and diversified to meet the needs of many different types of women. It can be expected that a male pill will go through the same development pattern as they get a grip on their fertility. Women get the focus on birth control because they carry the baby. There are few options for men and many complain about using condoms and a vasectomy is simply not appropriate for most men.

Male injections are gaining traction around the world as well. Women have long had monthly injections as a birth control option and now men do as well. Reversible Inhibition of Sperm Under Guidance (RISUG) is an injection of chemicals that form a gel along the vas deferens reducing the number of sperm which survive the ejaculatory trip. It lasts ten to 15 years.

Source: Medical News Today