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The Economics of Male Birth Control

priceonomics.com

11–20 of 87 posts

Re: The Economics of Male Birth Control

#11
post #8

Male birth control is not happening, it is not just economy but also politics. There are a few methods known since sixties, with less side effects than female hormonal contraception, but those are all banned.

>There are a few methods known since sixties, with less side effects than female hormonal contraception

Such as?

Re: The Economics of Male Birth Control

#12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It looks very much like it is happening. I have to travel to another country to get a procedure done? Oh well. Medical tourism has been a thing for a while.

Male non-invasive birth control isn't happening right now. It wouldn't be viable to travel to other countries to get birth control pills monthly.

> Male non-invasive birth control isn't happening right now.

Research continues, no? Its going to be available sometime soon (3-5 years), even if I have to get pills mailed from India or China every month (or I go on a medical tourism trip to have the Vasalgel procedure done).

If I'm worried about the reversibility, I'd have some semen cryogenically preserved. I'm also not too worried with how quickly protocols are being developed to coax stem cells to grow into reproductive tissue.

Re: The Economics of Male Birth Control

#13
post #8

Male birth control is not happening, it is not just economy but also politics. There are a few methods known since sixties, with less side effects than female hormonal contraception, but those are all banned.

>There are a few methods known since sixties, with less side effects than female hormonal contraception Such as?

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/722423_5

google cache: https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:50H_2S...

Re: The Economics of Male Birth Control

#14
post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>There are a few methods known since sixties, with less side effects than female hormonal contraception Such as?

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/722423_5 google cache: https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:50H_2S...

Do you have a link that's not behind a paywall? Can you describe the abstract?

Re: The Economics of Male Birth Control

#15
I think this part nails it:

"Any new product they could introduce would be likely to cannibalize their existing products. After all, one reason for a man to want to use a reversible contraceptive is so his partner can stop taking the pill."

Little economical incentive to cannibalize its own market. That makes so much more sense than conspiracy theories preventing this from happening. I disregard real "scientific barriers" here because I believe capitalism would have driven science to where it wanted anyway -- hell, there's very little stuff in the world that won't see any meaningful progress after 50 years of research.

Re: The Economics of Male Birth Control

#16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Male non-invasive birth control isn't happening right now. It wouldn't be viable to travel to other countries to get birth control pills monthly.

> Male non-invasive birth control isn't happening right now. Research continues, no? Its going to be available sometime soon (3-5 years), even if I have to get pills mailed from India or China every month (or I go on a medical tourism trip to have the Vasalgel procedure done). If I'm worried about the reversibility, I'd have some semen cryogenically preserved. I'm also not too worried with how quickly protocols are b…

I've been hearing that it will be available "sometime soon" for the last 20 years.

Re: The Economics of Male Birth Control

#17

I think this part nails it: "Any new product they could introduce would be likely to cannibalize their existing products. After all, one reason for a man to want to use a reversible contraceptive is so his partner can stop taking the pill." Little economical incentive to cannibalize its own market. That makes so much more sense than conspiracy theories preventing this from happening. I disregard real "scientific barr…

I doubt that's actually true for most use cases, though. I think for most people it offers security for the male only. People always want to keep their own sexual health under their own control. I would be hesitant to say that most sex happens in relationships between two long-term exclusive partners. Therefore, there would be many people still interested in taking the daily pill or other birth control options for their own protection, instead of taking their sexual partner at their word.

Also, if you find the fact that economics or whatever has prevented male birth control, consider donating to the Parsemus Foundation who is actively working on the Vasalgel product.

http://www.parsemusfoundation.org/projects/vasalgel/

Re: The Economics of Male Birth Control

#18
One problem with trying to reverse a vasectomy is that backpressure from the blocked vas deferens can cause damage to the epididymides. It would appear that this Vasalgel product would have the same issue. However upon further research [1] (not sure about the source) apparently the block is not complete, but rather relies on spermicide to kill any sperm passing the 'blocked' area. This should reduce pressure and the associated risk.

[1] http://www.newmalecontraception.org/archive/risug.htm

Re: The Economics of Male Birth Control

#19
I would not be surprised at this scenario - her: do you have protection? him: um, sure. I'm taking that, uh, that pill thing.

I can't help but think a male contraceptive that is not visually verifiable by the women is not entirely trustworthy. Perhaps in committed relationships, but not for casual sex. I'm sure we're all nice guys here, but men in general are not exactly known for being trustworthy when they're drunk and about to have sex.

Re: The Economics of Male Birth Control

#20

I think this part nails it: "Any new product they could introduce would be likely to cannibalize their existing products. After all, one reason for a man to want to use a reversible contraceptive is so his partner can stop taking the pill." Little economical incentive to cannibalize its own market. That makes so much more sense than conspiracy theories preventing this from happening. I disregard real "scientific barr…

What are the "conspiracy theories" surrounding this?

And can we please stop using this CIA slur around here? CIA Memo #1035-960 for those unfamiliar.

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