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Birth control pill for men could begin human trials later this year

popsci.com

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Re: Birth control pill for men could begin human trials later this year

#41

Post by henriquez »

Cyberdog wrote: post #29
endisneigh wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I’m just curious what problem this is solving. If you’re casually dating your partner has no guarantee you’re on the pill, so you have to use a condom anyway. If you’re with another dude, you’d still want to use a condom for stds. If you’re in a long term relationship and don’t want kids aren’t there already better options than this? Under what circumstances would one use this over a condom?

> Under what circumstances would one use this over a condom? I personally find sex without condoms much more pleasurable and I suspect I'm not alone. I would be open to using an effective and affordable form of male birth control in a committed relationship if it meant I didn't have to use a condom. That said, for casual encounters, this could be used in addition to a condom, just to "be sure."

No one actually likes condoms, condom use recommended as a gold standard is just flippant judgey bullshit from people who don’t actually get sex. Condoms don’t prevent a lot of STDs and they don’t always work without failure, but god forbid we accept and design around what normal mammals have done for millenia.

If you’re concerned about HIV there’s PrEP, if you’re concerned about bacterial infection there’s antibiotics, and for everything else you likely already have it (unless you’re a virgin who browbeats people over condom use).

Re: Birth control pill for men could begin human trials later this year

#42

Post by jfengel »

endisneigh wrote: post #21
raziel2p wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Does it need to?

I’m just curious what problem this is solving. If you’re casually dating your partner has no guarantee you’re on the pill, so you have to use a condom anyway. If you’re with another dude, you’d still want to use a condom for stds. If you’re in a long term relationship and don’t want kids aren’t there already better options than this? Under what circumstances would one use this over a condom?

While condoms used correctly are 98% effective, typical use is only 78% effective. Condoms sometimes break, especially if you don't use them correctly. You also have to be conscientious about pulling out after ejaculation, which isn't necessarily the most satisfying conclusion to sex. They have to be applied correctly and fitted correctly.

Pills also have a lot of failure modes, of course. But they can provide a more "natural", smooth experience to sex. You don't have to interrupt the process to apply one -- and sometimes that can lead to further interruptions.

For me, the more modes of protection the better. I could see wanting to use both a condom AND a pill -- the former for STDs, the latter to be extra-certain about pregnancy. The risk may be low but the consequences are very high. You should absolutely use a condom until you are close enough to be "fluid bonded".

Re: Birth control pill for men could begin human trials later this year

#43

Post by brailsafe »

xscott wrote: post #18
bufbupa wrote: post #12

The problem with male birth control pills is that it's the women who bear the bulk of the risk/responsibility when it comes to pregnancy. If a woman says "trust me, i'm on the pill" and lies -- they're the ones that get pregnant and likely get stuck raising the kid. Sure the father might be on the hook financially, but if the woman lied about their birth control and went forward with the pregnancy anyway it's not abs…

Men can only "bail on the situation" when they don't have much to lose. Any man with a reliable job and good salary is very vulnerable to having wages garnished.

Which is sad. Should be treated like sexual assault

Re: Birth control pill for men could begin human trials later this year

#44

Post by jfengel »

brimble wrote: post #33
endisneigh wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I didn’t realize people still took pills in committed relationships. My doc friends said a copper iud is pretty much the gold standard. Thanks for the info.

IUDs or injected, persistent "pills", yeah, I'm not sure literally taking a pill every day is as common as it once was now that they can inject something that lasts months and doesn't require remembering to take it, but some form of drug-based contraception is still fairly common (among the ones not using IUDs for whatever reason).

Daily pills are still quite common. The implants are not trivial projects; it's a lot more than just a jab, and takes a few days to recover from. IUDs are also very unpleasant to have put in. And some women like the level of control they get from taking the daily pill.

Re: Birth control pill for men could begin human trials later this year

#45

Post by Karawebnetwork »

TSiege wrote: post #36

Is there any reason that the medical industry is pushing medicinal therapies to prevent pregnancy when a very promising procedure called vasalgel is just hanging on the vine? It is 1) highly effective, 2) non-hormonal/non-medicinal just a minor injection into the vas deferens 3) long lasting and reversible 4) dirt cheap. It's mind boggling how this has been able to progress beyond animal trials even though it's perfo…

> reversible

But requires a visit to the doctor. While a pill can simply be stopped at any time to achieve a pregnancy.

In my opinion, the idea of eating a "magic pills" is easier to swallow than the idea of "injecting cement into a pipe". One adds to your body, the other modifies it (if ever slihtly).

Re: Birth control pill for men could begin human trials later this year

#46

Post by FalconSensei »

bufbupa wrote: post #28
bobro wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

what better options do you mean?

for long-term birth control a copper (non-hormonal) IUD might be a better option. You don't have to remember to take pills, and it's less chemically disruptive to the body. Or better yet a vasectomy if you never want kids.

total anecdotal: a couple years ago, I went to a gender reveal party. The wife had IUD, but it was not properly put, iirc. Then talking to another couple there, they were expecting a baby. Guess what was the birth control of choice?

In the end, all methods can fail. Combining male + female controls is the best, since both would have to fail for a pregnancy to happen.

Re: Birth control pill for men could begin human trials later this year

#47

Post by Karawebnetwork »

bufbupa wrote: post #12

The problem with male birth control pills is that it's the women who bear the bulk of the risk/responsibility when it comes to pregnancy. If a woman says "trust me, i'm on the pill" and lies -- they're the ones that get pregnant and likely get stuck raising the kid. Sure the father might be on the hook financially, but if the woman lied about their birth control and went forward with the pregnancy anyway it's not abs…

Everyone should be responsible for their own bodies. The fact that men now have access to the pill does not mean that women will have to stop taking theirs and suddenly leave the risks of pregnancy to others.

Now both will be able to take it. Each individual will be able to choose the level of risk that is right for them.

If you are a woman who is comfortable with the risk, you can stop the pill and trust your partner. If you are not, you can take the pill yourself.

If you are a man who is comfortable with the risk, you can stop the pill and trust your partner. If you are not, you can take the pill yourself.

This is also a great option for stable relationships where the woman cannot take hormone-based pills. The man can simply take this non-hormonal pill and the couple will be protected from unplanned pregnancy.

Re: Birth control pill for men could begin human trials later this year

#48

Post by FalconSensei »

sacrosancty wrote: post #38
bufbupa wrote: post #12

The problem with male birth control pills is that it's the women who bear the bulk of the risk/responsibility when it comes to pregnancy. If a woman says "trust me, i'm on the pill" and lies -- they're the ones that get pregnant and likely get stuck raising the kid. Sure the father might be on the hook financially, but if the woman lied about their birth control and went forward with the pregnancy anyway it's not abs…

Not exactly. Women have the power to choose abortion but men don't. Men however are liable for financially supporting the child. The greater risk is with the man. There are a lot of men who would love to have the confidence of not having to trust every woman he sleeps with. "Stealing" babies from men and the fear of that is real.

Exactly. Of course, depending on country/state, the regulations vary. But at least here in Canada, if birth control fails, the woman can get an abortion. What happens is that often they don't, but you can't say the option is not there. (again: depending on local regulations, but assuming you are somewhere with this option)

Re: Birth control pill for men could begin human trials later this year

#49

Post by Karawebnetwork »

emptysongglass wrote: post #26
MisterSandman wrote: post #2

As a gay man, it's always a lot of fun to watch discussions on birth control for men. I personally have my money on that if/when they do launch for the public, they will be too expensive/difficult to get for basically forever, and women will continue to have to bear the cost of preventing pregnancies. "Men using birth control" would become the "hippie" thing to do that you will only see people in LA/NY do. I am very…

Straight man here. I have a solution to all this and it's the same solution many (though my understanding not all) gay men practice: anal sex. It's all my wife and I do together. No pill needed! (Practice safe sex.)

Still not 100% proof. Things such as internal fissures and external trickles can still cause pregnancies. Granted, the risks are very low.

Re: Birth control pill for men could begin human trials later this year

#50

Post by tcj_phx »

This problem is solved, just not in pill form.

There's an old solution that allows men to reduce their sperm count, down to an effective-zero: raise the temperature of the testicles to be body temperature.

In ancient times bread bakers were known to not father as many children, until they stopped working the ovens. The heat shock protein disrupts sperm production for longer periods of time. HSP forms at 104 degrees, iirc.

One of my previous comments about this: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=28023798

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