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The Economics of Male Birth Control

priceonomics.com

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Re: The Economics of Male Birth Control

#21

Post by caio1982 »

LesZedCB wrote: post #17
caio1982 wrote: post #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 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 th…

Well, that was one reason only. I'd include myself in the group of paranoid sexual partners too, by the way. Still, I believe the economical incentive is missing here, as the industry might just think there are plenty of crappy alternatives and yet people complain very little about not having a male pill. Why would they bother in cannibalizing their own products then?

Re: The Economics of Male Birth Control

#22

Post by LesZedCB »

jakejake wrote: post #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…

Gender generalizations aside, there's nothing wrong with the male using vasalgel, the female using a hormonal option, and the male also using a condom. Just makes it even more effective, and everybody involved feels comfortable and relatively safe. Sexual safety is the responsibility of each individual involved.

Re: The Economics of Male Birth Control

#23

Post by datruth29 »

jakejake wrote: post #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…

This doesn't solve the problem of getting an STD, it only protects against the possibility of getting someone pregnant. Condoms are still the best form of protection against that. Vasagel however, can work well in conjunction with condoms.

Re: The Economics of Male Birth Control

#24

Post by stevenmays »

jakejake wrote: post #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…

Meh. The counterpoint. Her: I'm on the pill. Him: Okay. 9 months later we find out she lied.

Both men and women should have access to contraceptives. Saying that one gender is less trust worthy then another is ridiculous.

Re: The Economics of Male Birth Control

#25

Post by souljaswag »

jakejake wrote: post #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…

I am though.

maybe we can make a website where we "verify" if people are trustworthy before drunken hookups.

tryna take home a dude at the bar? just verifyhim

we can even call it verifyhim. scan his fingerprint on your iphone and/or use your cameraphone to scan his eyes to verify if he was using the man pill last time he hooked up.

Re: The Economics of Male Birth Control

#26

Post by anigbrowl »

planfaster wrote: post #20
caio1982 wrote: post #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 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.

Well, we could invoke a 'furtive fallacy' if you prefer.

Re: The Economics of Male Birth Control

#27

Post by DanBC »

jakejake wrote: post #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…

For casual sex people should be using two methods of contraception, and one of those should be a standards-compliant condom.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/nearly-half-a-million-new...

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/hiv-infections-continue-t...

etc

Re: The Economics of Male Birth Control

#28

Post by anigbrowl »

stevenmays wrote: post #24
jakejake wrote: post #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…

Meh. The counterpoint. Her: I'm on the pill. Him: Okay. 9 months later we find out she lied. Both men and women should have access to contraceptives. Saying that one gender is less trust worthy then another is ridiculous.

Possible, but if you want us to the ignore the hugely differing economic incentives for men and women wrt pregnancy then the discussion isn't going to go anywhere.

Re: The Economics of Male Birth Control

#29

Post by girvo »

jakejake wrote: post #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…

As if some women don't lie about being on contraception...

Re: The Economics of Male Birth Control

#30

Post by radarsat1 »

Could Vasalgel be used in fallopian tubes? Why are there not more options for mechanical, reversible birth control for women that don't involve hormones?

The economics of regularly-taken pills seem to disadvantage everybody (except the drug companies.)

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