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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

#71

Post by igetspam »

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…

I would assume that the male pill is targeted more toward people in relationships. Condoms prevent more than just the one side effect of intercourse, where a pill does nothing for STDs. After our first kid, my wife told me to go get clipped. I didn't hesitate for a second and now I'm happily unable to procreate again. On the other hand, my wife has regretted that decision for years. Selfishly, I love the fact that I don't have to argue about it but had she not been so quick to react to the unpleasantness of pregnancy, I probably would have caved and we'd have two kids. Had a pill been available, she almost certainly would have opted for that. (Birth control pills and devices have caused her serious medical problems in the past, so it's not a viable option.)

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

#72

Post by igetspam »

FalconSensei wrote: post #51
aeturnum wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

More options are always better. It's common that hormonal birth control won't work for someone, so it's great that we are creating more configurations. You're also correct that the person who is going to get pregnant is the more invested party and the one who is going to suffer the consequences from improper preparations.

> You're also correct that the person who is going to get pregnant is the more invested party and the one who is going to suffer the consequences from improper preparations. Depending on the country/state you are in. If abortion is legalized, you can do that. And then, if you know you won't get an abortion either because local regulations forbid, or it goes against your beliefs, then you have to weight in your risks…

I've been party to at least two abortions. They're shitty and they come with major side effects. I would have taken the male pill as religiously as I take my allergy pills, to avoid that.

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

#73

Post by igetspam »

confidantlake wrote: post #55
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…

I don't understand this take. If a woman doesn't want a kid she can get an abortion. If a man doesn't want a kid he better hope the woman feels the same or he is screwed. Women have almost all the power in this situation.

Not in Texas or the other states following suit. Not sure if you're American or not but women are having the right to choose stripped a lot lately. None of us will have any power soon.

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

#74

Post by igetspam »

silicon2401 wrote: post #63
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…

This underplays the risks men face. As a woman, you can take bc and protect yourself against crazy guys who would ditch in the case of a pregnancy. Male bc would similarly protect men against women who would lie about being on bc

Ah yes. We can protect ourselves from the least likely scenario. Good... good...

Do people really think this is so common that we need to consider it a possibility in almost any case? It keeps being brought up but it's highly unlikely, outside of daytime talk shows.

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

#75

Post by 0xdeadb00f »

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.

> 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.

I find brushing off abortion like this a tad ridiculous. Sure one could say the 'risk' is greater. But abortion carries with it emotional, and physical trauma, not to mention a lot of women are still met with shameful looks in today's society for doing so. It isn't an easy process, and I think comparing it with financial liability like this is a bit.. "Insensitive", I think the word is.

Even still, some women are not comfortable with abortion. And in that case they will be taking a greater risk.

Like I see what you're saying, but I don't think the comparison between abortion and financial liability is something we should be doing.

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

#76

Post by sircastor »

confidantlake wrote: post #55
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…

I don't understand this take. If a woman doesn't want a kid she can get an abortion. If a man doesn't want a kid he better hope the woman feels the same or he is screwed. Women have almost all the power in this situation.

I once came across this statement, which has stuck with me: “All unwanted pregnancies are the result of irresponsible ejaculations.” And I haven’t been able to figure a situation that refutes that. The idea that a woman somehow has power in this situation misrepresents power dynamics and the reality of gender inequality in our society. If men don’t want a kid, or don’t want to risk a pregnancy, it is not difficult to avoid.

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

#77

Post by sacrosancty »

0xdeadb00f wrote: post #75
sacrosancty wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

> 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. I find brushing off abortion like this a tad ridiculous. Sure one could say the 'risk' is greater. But abortion carries with it emotional, and physical trauma, not to mention a lot of women are still met with shameful looks in today's society for doing so…

That financial liability is 18 years of paying some double-digit percentage of your income to somebody that could be a almost a stranger for nothing in return. All those hours of work wasted is huge, so is the emotional toll of being cheated in such a large scale.

Abortion as soon as you discover you're pregnant is just a pill and quite easy.

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

#78

Post by klyrs »

TSiege wrote: post #59
Karawebnetwork wrote: post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> 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).

I know several women who have used IUDs or implanted birth control. Vasalgel is like an IUD except its not a painful procedure. If a man wants to take a pill that tampers with his bodies normal biological functions go ahead, but I'd prefer a non painful approach that I can use for 5 years without thinking about it and get it set up and removed in maybe 2 hours total?

Some men prefer to take responsibility of their own biology, if nothing else, to reduce risk of an accidental lifetime of child support.

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

#79

Post by klyrs »

brailsafe wrote: post #43
xscott wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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

How would that help the child?

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

#80

Post by klyrs »

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.

> Women have the power to choose abortion but men don't.

Not exactly. Abortion is criminalized in multiple states now. In other states, the father needs to be identified and consent to the abortion. It's also stigmatized and many women don't have a free choice in the matter -- in some religious communities, a woman who seeks an abortion does so at the risk of excommunication, disowning or even beatings/murder.

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