Harry
CibbuanoMale Contraceptive Pill
January 29th 2007 00:05
This is the big finale to the male contraceptive pill discussion...
So if the surveys at least indicate that society is happy to accept a male hormonal contraceptive treatment, exactly how far off are we from having men on contraceptive pills? The big snag in the development of these contraceptive pills is getting 100% effectiveness in disabling all the man's sperm. There's no use just stopping the majority of the sperm, it only takes one to fetilise an egg and get the procreation ball rolling.
In 2003, researchers in Australia carried out a limited trial of a combination contraceptive that was 100 per cent effective and free of unacceptable side effects. Importantly, it was also reversible - normal fertility levels returned within a few months of stopping the treatment. Contrary to the survey reports, it has been very difficult to run trials in Europe as there has been a general unwillingness for males to volunteer as human guinea pigs for such trials.
It's likely to be a long time before any treatment comes out of the research stage and into the chemists. Current speculatio puts it at a few years before anything is going to be available for purchase.
In the meantime society is left to speculate on the social impact that a male contraceptive pill will or wont have on society. If the fruits of male contraceptive pills are every reaped, men may have their first real chance in forty-five years at having a voice in the reproductive rights discussion. How will a male contraceptive pill change our perceptions of gender roles?
Men’s roles as providers and seed spreaders have been reinforced by evolutionary biology, popular culture, and religion. Women, after all, are the ones who literally carry the burden after an egg is fertilized, so they have a vested interest in making sure that happens only when they wish it. Are women ready to completely leave the responsiblity of conception in the hands of the male? Both men and women buy condoms and use them to prevent sexually transmitted diseases; for the most part, however, contraceptive responsibility still falls squarely on the shoulders of women.
It is anticipated that a hormonal pill treatment would have a reduced failure rate compared to the other male contraception method... the condom. Despite the success rate, the trade-off would be that men would most likely risk the side effects that some women experience on hormonal contraceptive treatments. A male would be required to commiting to change their physical makeups and risk some of the side effects. Some men may find a hormonal solution as a liberating option compared to condoms, but is there really enough interest invested in a male risking the potential side effects?
So if the surveys at least indicate that society is happy to accept a male hormonal contraceptive treatment, exactly how far off are we from having men on contraceptive pills? The big snag in the development of these contraceptive pills is getting 100% effectiveness in disabling all the man's sperm. There's no use just stopping the majority of the sperm, it only takes one to fetilise an egg and get the procreation ball rolling.
In 2003, researchers in Australia carried out a limited trial of a combination contraceptive that was 100 per cent effective and free of unacceptable side effects. Importantly, it was also reversible - normal fertility levels returned within a few months of stopping the treatment. Contrary to the survey reports, it has been very difficult to run trials in Europe as there has been a general unwillingness for males to volunteer as human guinea pigs for such trials.
It's likely to be a long time before any treatment comes out of the research stage and into the chemists. Current speculatio puts it at a few years before anything is going to be available for purchase.
In the meantime society is left to speculate on the social impact that a male contraceptive pill will or wont have on society. If the fruits of male contraceptive pills are every reaped, men may have their first real chance in forty-five years at having a voice in the reproductive rights discussion. How will a male contraceptive pill change our perceptions of gender roles?
Men’s roles as providers and seed spreaders have been reinforced by evolutionary biology, popular culture, and religion. Women, after all, are the ones who literally carry the burden after an egg is fertilized, so they have a vested interest in making sure that happens only when they wish it. Are women ready to completely leave the responsiblity of conception in the hands of the male? Both men and women buy condoms and use them to prevent sexually transmitted diseases; for the most part, however, contraceptive responsibility still falls squarely on the shoulders of women.
It is anticipated that a hormonal pill treatment would have a reduced failure rate compared to the other male contraception method... the condom. Despite the success rate, the trade-off would be that men would most likely risk the side effects that some women experience on hormonal contraceptive treatments. A male would be required to commiting to change their physical makeups and risk some of the side effects. Some men may find a hormonal solution as a liberating option compared to condoms, but is there really enough interest invested in a male risking the potential side effects?
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