Spring Break
Male birth control progress hindered by biases
Emily Brown
Issue date: 2/24/06 Section: OpEd Page
Society as a whole unfortunately still views pregnancy prevention as a women's issue - well, wake-up and smell the sperm, society. It isn't just a women's issue - it is a human issue, and men, it's time to take on some responsibility. It's your turn to rewire your reproductive capabilities and give us women a break from four decades of birth control and social responsibility. Our bodies are ready to boogie sans birth control weight. Husbands, boyfriends and playboys, ready or not, here it comes.
Researchers around the world have been developing a male version of birth control medicine for the last two decades. An injection received every three months or a small rod inserted into the arm every 12 months are the most successful methods developed so far, but much headway is being gained in the development of an oral contraceptive for men. The injection prevents pregnancy 97 percent of the time - about as effective as female birth control which hovers anywhere from 97 to 99 percent effective. The male pill is still only about 95 percent effective according to seattlepi.com.
It's difficult to justify the fact that there has not been one new form of contraceptive for males since the invention of the condom centuries ago. Condoms themselves are unsatisfactory on many levels: They're not cheap and are somewhat unreliable. Other than breakage, a couple which relies only on condoms for a year has a 10-15 percent chance of pregnancy anyway according to the same Web site. Male birth control methods would improve those circumstances over time. Nonetheless, condoms are essential to the prevention of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and male birth control methods will not safeguard against that.
Due to religious, social and economic concerns, however, development of a male birth control method has been slow at best, as pharmaceutical companies are reluctant to fork over big bucks to researchers with the government lagging behind even more so.
Viagra and female birth control, on the other hand, have no difficulties fulfilling the capitalistic aims of the pharmaceutical industry. Pregnancy - and if it's unwanted, the financial and social responsibilities of child rearing - are women's domain. Let them pay to fix their systems. But sexual rejuvenation and increased arousal - go get 'em men. And don't forget to line the pockets of the industry along the way.
Another hindrance for researchers is the lack of knowledge on long-term side effects and risks as a result of taking the medications. On the other hand, female birth control pills have been on the market for 40 years despite the known risks of long-term side effects such as headaches, mood changes, depression, increased risk of blood clots, pulmonary embolism, heart attack and stroke. Check out www.serendip.brynmawr.edu for more information. But now, the male pill is being rejected due to the uncertainty of future risks.
One thing is for certain - female birth control makes money. What remains uncertain is the profit margin of male birth control. This much is clear: Within the pharmaceutical industry and capitalism itself, women's bodies, agency and choice remain subject to the whims of the market and society's outdated prejudices. Men remember: Birth control is for you too.
Researchers around the world have been developing a male version of birth control medicine for the last two decades. An injection received every three months or a small rod inserted into the arm every 12 months are the most successful methods developed so far, but much headway is being gained in the development of an oral contraceptive for men. The injection prevents pregnancy 97 percent of the time - about as effective as female birth control which hovers anywhere from 97 to 99 percent effective. The male pill is still only about 95 percent effective according to seattlepi.com.
It's difficult to justify the fact that there has not been one new form of contraceptive for males since the invention of the condom centuries ago. Condoms themselves are unsatisfactory on many levels: They're not cheap and are somewhat unreliable. Other than breakage, a couple which relies only on condoms for a year has a 10-15 percent chance of pregnancy anyway according to the same Web site. Male birth control methods would improve those circumstances over time. Nonetheless, condoms are essential to the prevention of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and male birth control methods will not safeguard against that.
Due to religious, social and economic concerns, however, development of a male birth control method has been slow at best, as pharmaceutical companies are reluctant to fork over big bucks to researchers with the government lagging behind even more so.
Viagra and female birth control, on the other hand, have no difficulties fulfilling the capitalistic aims of the pharmaceutical industry. Pregnancy - and if it's unwanted, the financial and social responsibilities of child rearing - are women's domain. Let them pay to fix their systems. But sexual rejuvenation and increased arousal - go get 'em men. And don't forget to line the pockets of the industry along the way.
Another hindrance for researchers is the lack of knowledge on long-term side effects and risks as a result of taking the medications. On the other hand, female birth control pills have been on the market for 40 years despite the known risks of long-term side effects such as headaches, mood changes, depression, increased risk of blood clots, pulmonary embolism, heart attack and stroke. Check out www.serendip.brynmawr.edu for more information. But now, the male pill is being rejected due to the uncertainty of future risks.
One thing is for certain - female birth control makes money. What remains uncertain is the profit margin of male birth control. This much is clear: Within the pharmaceutical industry and capitalism itself, women's bodies, agency and choice remain subject to the whims of the market and society's outdated prejudices. Men remember: Birth control is for you too.
