Male Birth Control Pills

It has always been argued why women should always bear the brunt when it comes to contraception and family planning. This could be the good news for those women to know that researches are now working towards making male birth control pills and contraceptives to make their male partners equally responsible for contraception. Even many male partners have welcomed the decision of having male contraceptives, which help them to better understand their female partners in contraception.

Presently, male contraception is available in three widely used forms i.e condoms, withdrawal method (where man "pulls out" his penis from vagina) and vasectomy (surgery where male's vasa deferentia are cut for sterilization purpose). But, need is felt to have oral contraceptives or birth control pills like women are using for men as well. Scientists and researchers are working on development of birth control pills similar to those of women are using, which should also be safe for consumption as well as easily reversible.

The Centers of Disease Control has reported that nearly 50 percent of pregnancies occurred are "unintended". Hence, it is very important for male partners to think seriously about taking active part in contraception along with their female counterparts.

Following data derived from the United Nations Population Division World Contraceptive Use 2003, which shows how the male and female contraception used in developed and developing countries. These are based on survey reports collected from the representatives of women aged between 15-49 years.

Contraception Ratio in Developed Countries
Female - All contraception methods	73%
Male	Condoms - 13% Withdrawal - 8% Vasectomy 6%

 

Contraception Ratio in Developing Countries
Female - All contraception methods	93%
Male	Condoms - 3% Withdrawal - 1% Vasectomy 3%

The above data is self-explanatory to express the emphasis of having male birth control pills.

Scientists and researches at GTx, Inc., Ohio University and University of Tennessee have successfully researched and came to conclusion that having birth control pills will not be a distinct dream. The male contraceptive will be completely safe and fully reversible. The Agenda for male contraceptives was first tabled at American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists' (AAPS) The 2007 Annual Meeting and Exposition.

What type of male birth control pills will be?
Well, study has showed that male contraceptive will be based on a non-steroidal hormonal medical therapy that will be known as selective androgen receptor modulator. Dr. James Dalton at AAPS, the lead researches has expressed his views on the new male contraceptive development as "the most successful lab research on male birth control pills so far with complete safety and reversibly inhibited fertility with no side effects". Clinical trials have already begun in some US and UK labs.

Two UK based doctors, Nnaemeka Amobi and Christopher Smith of King's College, have spent more than 12 years in researching the developing of male birth control pills and they have designed the concept of "dry orgasm pill". As the name suggests, this kind of pill will be required to take 2 hours prior to sex. It would "dry-up" the male semen without making any changes in orgasm.

Combined hormonal treatment for men:
Some of the hormonal based male contraceptives are also under developing stage besides birth control pills where the hormonal treatment like implant (which can be inserted under the skin) or injection can also be used so that men do not need to remember taking pills all the time. This type of treatment will be of the combined hormonal where male sex hormone testosterone will be required to be replaced every four months and progestin hormone (similar to female hormone) to be replaced by every three months.

This is reversible method works on male body's natural system of initiating puberty. It will temporarily turn off the signals from the brain responsible for the semen production. The male contraceptive combined hormonal treatment will stop the testosterone production as well. He may, however, will be required to have additional doses of the hormone in order to remain sexually healthy and maintain his sex drive. Once the treatment is stopped, fertility level returns to normal within few months. The study does not find any serious side effects.

 

Next : Male vs Female Birth Control Pills