Male Birth Control? New Contraceptive Alternative Underway

slimvictor

slimvictor

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Scientists are in a race to develop a male birth control pill that can become a new contraceptive alternative to condoms.

Male birth control pills work in similar fashion to female birth control by lowering sperm count to a level not conducive for conception. The pill chemically is made up of testosterone and progestin, hormones that stop the production of sperm.

Despite the fact that 95 percent of the men who have taken the hormone birth control pills saw successful results, the pills are not characterized as safe or effective for everyone, particularly due to side effects and negative reactants, like alcohol.

In spite of these findings, resurgence in male interest for effective, reversible birth control has sparked the interest of scientists around the globe, as reported in the New York Times, to develop the first safe and risk-free method for men.

Researchers at the University of Kansas Medical Center have developed a pill called gamendazole that interrupts sperm maturation.

Another contender in the male birth control pill race is Dr. John K. Armory of the University of Washington, who is studying a drug to treat worm infections that coincidently causes infertility by blocking production of retinoic acid.

However, like most of the other pills developed, it is counterproductive when consumed with alcohol, which makes the user ill.

The New York Times reported that geneticist Debra J. Wolgemuth of Columbia University Medical Center is working on formulating a drug that blocks sperm production during alcohol consumption, without the ill effects.

cont at
http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/185955/20110724/male-birth-control-contraceptive.htm
 
The good news is that safe and effective male contraceptives would have far fewer ethical controversies associated with them than most current non-barrier female methods:

There would be no arguments about whether the technique was an abortifacient, since the medication prevents sperm from forming or maturing sufficiently to fertilize an egg.
There would be no argument about whether the contraception prevented ovulation or implantation, as with the female birth control pill.
There would be no arguments, as often now rage about female birth control that prevent implantation, as to whether creating an inhospitable uterine environment takes the life of an early embryo.
There would be no arguments about whether a woman carrying an embryo in her fallopian tube is yet actually pregnant.
Finally, I think a male contraceptive would promote greater societal comity since fewer pharmacists would presumably object to dispensing the male contraception, than female forms such as the “morning after pill,” since by doing so they would not possibly be complicit in the taking of a nascent human life.
Click to expand...

from http://www.firstthings.com/blogs/se...aceptives-would-create-few-ethical-arguments/
 
Even if this works out, as a woman, and for my own protection, I'll still use female birth control pills. Everyone should have the option to make conception more difficult...I wonder if there's anything on any positive health side effects a drug that does this could possibly have for men? Birth control for women can be used for medical reasons like ovarian cyst syndromes, endometriosis, they even market it for clearer skin (I disagree with this one.) I agree the theory of a male birth control is a very positive thing to be working on clearly, but I feel like if they found something with positive side effects it might be easier to get it into action somewhere.
 
I find it pointless. I mean unless I know the girl's clean, I'm still gonna wrap my willy? And not beat for side effects.
 
^ Yes you are still going to wrap it, just as girls will want a condom involved as well even if they are on birth control and it really was 100% effective (unless its a long term partner anyway.) But a measure towards men also thinking "by me taking this I lessen the chances of me being a way too young dad" and not just wrapping it up for safety like it should be done anyway. I feel like many women think about the same issue as it lessening the chances they'll end up a mother when they don't want to be, and it puts a man more in control of his own part in that. I think it's positive but a HUGE positive to birth control for women is a reduction in menstrual fucking hell, and I really think something positive will have to get figured out (thus another use like the article says) in order for this to happen.
 
Jesus Victor, you've posted 20 news articles within an hour. Good ones though, I have to admit. The only comment-worthy ones I've seen in a while.

I don't know, I don't like the idea of anything messing with my balls, seems that even the tiniest thing will give you some disease or make your testicles fall off these days.
 
^
They could already get whatever they want easily. ;)


Recently there were articles on a more interesting approach to male birth control coming out of India. Fuck, I forget the source, perhaps Wired... It was about a plastic like substance being implanted. Relatively easy to perform, great success rate, and reversible.

Edit: Found the link!
http://www.wired.com/magazine/2011/04/ff_vasectomy/all/1
 
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