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The Best Birth Control In The World Is For Men

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Re: The Best Birth Control In The World Is For Men

#21

Post by jdoliner »

carbocation wrote: post #9

Let's not trivialize birth control with a title like this. Good birth control comes from empowering both partners, and protecting those who are unwilling partners. For women, an IUD is a great option. For men, barrier methods have been the only reliable, reversible methods until now. This is exciting, but let's not forget about the whole scope and meaning of self-control over reproduction.

In what way does this trivialize birth control? The ideal of birth control as a technology would allow anyone to cheaply turn their ability to reproduce on or off with no side effects. It's no more concerned with unwilling partners than willing, the technologies work the same for both. Judging from this article the method in question is getting pretty darn close to that ideal.

Re: The Best Birth Control In The World Is For Men

#22

Post by jdoliner »

carbocation wrote: post #9

Let's not trivialize birth control with a title like this. Good birth control comes from empowering both partners, and protecting those who are unwilling partners. For women, an IUD is a great option. For men, barrier methods have been the only reliable, reversible methods until now. This is exciting, but let's not forget about the whole scope and meaning of self-control over reproduction.

In what way does this trivialize birth control? The ideal of birth control as a technology would allow anyone to cheaply turn their ability to reproduce on or off with no side effects. It's no more concerned with unwilling partners than willing, the technologies work the same for both. Judging from this article the method in question is getting pretty darn close to that ideal.

Re: The Best Birth Control In The World Is For Men

#24

Post by dfc »

angersock wrote: post #15
monochromatic wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why is the best birth control in the world so one-sided?

Because men clearly are not as invested in the possible rearing of a child. Clearly. (seriously: making a kid should be && not || )

Thank you. I was a little surprised that my comment got downvoted so much. Maybe this is due to the low percentage of female HNers?

Its as if most people think that the pill would have been as revolutionary if it were for men instead of women.

Re: The Best Birth Control In The World Is For Men

#25

Post by carbocation »

nekitamo wrote: post #19
carbocation wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Intrauterine devices (IUDs) fit exactly that bill. But one of my points is that one form of birth control, only for men or only for women, shouldn't wear the title "best."

Have you ever had sex with someone who has an IUD. Or talked to a woman with an IUD to see her opinion on it? Because it's not all you make it out to be.

I'm not sure how that would inform my awareness of the fact that IUDs provide effective birth control for women for 10 years after insertion. But I'm in medical school, so you can make a guess as to how many of the women that I know happily use IUDs (hint: many).

Re: The Best Birth Control In The World Is For Men

#26

Post by Resident_Geek »

carbocation wrote: post #18
Resident_Geek wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't see how this title trivializes birth control. Good birth control comes from controlling birth. I don't believe any other method can claim 10+ years of effectiveness, with practically no side effects and high reversibility.

Intrauterine devices (IUDs) fit exactly that bill. But one of my points is that one form of birth control, only for men or only for women, shouldn't wear the title "best."

And I disagree with that. If it's the best at controlling birth, it's the best birth control. Since all sex acts involve two people, and I have a really hard time picturing a form of birth control which targets both parties equally, which party benefits/is responsible for it/controls it is neutral for judging which form is best.

Re: The Best Birth Control In The World Is For Men

#27

Post by carbocation »

Resident_Geek wrote: post #26
carbocation wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Intrauterine devices (IUDs) fit exactly that bill. But one of my points is that one form of birth control, only for men or only for women, shouldn't wear the title "best."

And I disagree with that. If it's the best at controlling birth, it's the best birth control. Since all sex acts involve two people, and I have a really hard time picturing a form of birth control which targets both parties equally, which party benefits/is responsible for it/controls it is neutral for judging which form is best.

Both parties are responsible, so there can and ought not be a single "best". "Best" is not any single method, but instead requires something from both parties.

Re: The Best Birth Control In The World Is For Men

#28

Post by Lost_BiomedE »

I am always surprised that every discussion of vasectomy, and even this solution, hand-waves away the experience one undergoes in the process. Before doing this yourself, at least know what your getting into:

http://thebrowser.com/articles/final-cut

For example, compare "one little injection" to "I don't scream, but I clamp my jaw so tightly it clicks. I arch my back so much I end up looking behind me at the door."

Re: The Best Birth Control In The World Is For Men

#29

Post by rudiger »

carbocation wrote: post #25
nekitamo wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Have you ever had sex with someone who has an IUD. Or talked to a woman with an IUD to see her opinion on it? Because it's not all you make it out to be.

I'm not sure how that would inform my awareness of the fact that IUDs provide effective birth control for women for 10 years after insertion. But I'm in medical school, so you can make a guess as to how many of the women that I know happily use IUDs (hint: many).

When you say you know these women, do you mean in the biblical sense?

Re: The Best Birth Control In The World Is For Men

#30

Post by carbocation »

rudiger wrote: post #29
carbocation wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm not sure how that would inform my awareness of the fact that IUDs provide effective birth control for women for 10 years after insertion. But I'm in medical school, so you can make a guess as to how many of the women that I know happily use IUDs (hint: many).

When you say you know these women, do you mean in the biblical sense?

> rudiger: When you say you know these women, do you mean in the biblical sense?

This crass garbage has no place on HN.

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