The Best Birth Control In The World Is For Men • Hacker News Board

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

#121

Post by electromagnetic » Fri, Mar 30, 2012, 1:20 AM UTC

schiffern wrote: post #118

Lazare wrote: post #82

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Of course, it also lowers sex drive[1], while causing weight gain, cancer[3], and heart problems[4]. For historical reasons IUDs are uncommon in the US. This is unfortunate. They aren't perfect, but they are relatively cheap, extremely reliable, and remarkably safe. Depending on the type, they also have few or no side effects. Worth considering... [1]: This one arguably isn't a health benefit, but in many ways it's h…

All hormonal contraceptives are not created equal. Cancer and heart problems are side-effects of estrogen or combination (estrogen + progestin) hormonal contraceptives. Progestin-only contraceptives (which include Implanon, Jadelle, and Mirena) have never been shown to cause cancer or heart problems. As always, don't look for medical advice from HN. (dfc was obviously referring to contraceptive treatments for debilit…

It should be noted that estrogen doesn't cause the cancer. The cancer exists and actually feeds on estrogen.

A woman's body is likely to find and destroy the defective cells before it's too late, but when you're taking hormones to overpower your body, you also have the risk of feeding the cancerous cells.

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

#122

Post by dkersten » Fri, Mar 30, 2012, 1:22 AM UTC

silentscope wrote: post #33

I do see a market with this, but it's got a lot of problems you'd need to navigate. Nothing a smart team couldn't figure out. Most of the time, men trust women when they say they're on birth control. Women get pregnant--a big deal. It's less likely (but not unheard of) that a woman wants to get pregnant and then lies about birth control. Men, on the other hand, would love to not use a condom. And men don't get pregna…

The way I see it, contraceptive is for the person using it.

So if the guy doesn't want the girl to get pregnant, or wants to avoid STIs - he should use the appropriate protection.

If the girl doesn't want to get pregnant, or wants to avoid STIs - she should use the appropriate protection.

(Both people want to avoid pregnancy/disease? Then both should use protection!)

That way you don't need to worry about what the other person is doing - you manage your own expectations.

If you're in a stable long-term relationship and have talked about it, then sure, you can rely on one person, but otherwise each person should, imho, manage their own contraceptives.

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

#123

Post by gyardley » Fri, Mar 30, 2012, 1:22 AM UTC

callmeed wrote: post #75

dminor wrote: post #67

Earlier quoted context omitted.

For couples who are done having children, this is a fantastic alternative to a vasectomy.

How so? If I'm "done" I'd rather have a vasectomy than risk forgetting about this and getting my wife pregnant at 42.

Because life is long, and when man plans, God laughs.

You could divorce (or be widowed) and remarry. You could tragically lose your existing children. You could simply change your mind - it does happen.

Should this happen to you, a shot into the vas to reverse things would be far, far easier on you and more likely to succeed than a vasovasostomy or a vasoepididymostomy.

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

#124

Post by electromagnetic » Fri, Mar 30, 2012, 1:26 AM UTC

Lazare wrote: post #109

dfc wrote: post #86

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is news to me. I have never heard/read anything that casts hormonal birth control in such a negative light. Do you have any pointers to more information? It has always been my understanding that hormone based birth control was a huge win for women's health...

Which bits? The impact on sex drive is fairly well known, I think. Google turns up a bunch of references[1][2]. The impact on weight is apparently cloudy; birth control pills almost universally list that as a side effect on the packaging, but studies have failed to turn up a reliable link. (Silly me; never trust drug company materials, even if they seem to be casting the drug in a negative light.) I understand there'…

Anecdotally the hormonal IUD's seem to have more of an effect on sex drive than the old fashioned pill. Me and the wife found that out after a clinic doctor gave her a prescription for it saying it reduces the risk of cancer (true, but unanimously agreed that it isn't worth it).

It must be noted that the anecdotal 'warnings' IE weight gain, depression, etc. may be a result of the well known drop in sex drive. Because, you know, sex has this mystical property that releases pleasure chemicals that reduce depression. Depression having the obvious side effect of weight gain. Also the impact on the hormone cycle anecdotally causes cravings.

The pill itself might not have side effects of weight gain, but I'd bet it's side effects do.

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

#125

Post by dkrich » Fri, Mar 30, 2012, 1:27 AM UTC

silentscope wrote: post #33

I do see a market with this, but it's got a lot of problems you'd need to navigate. Nothing a smart team couldn't figure out. Most of the time, men trust women when they say they're on birth control. Women get pregnant--a big deal. It's less likely (but not unheard of) that a woman wants to get pregnant and then lies about birth control. Men, on the other hand, would love to not use a condom. And men don't get pregna…

I disagree completely. Sure there are guys who might lie, but a lot of guys would love to be able to not ever have to worry about the female using birth control. Males (and females) hate condoms, but the idea of having a child before you are ready is a very scary proposition. I think this would sell very well if the surgery were painless and not too invasive.

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

#126

Post by dkersten » Fri, Mar 30, 2012, 1:31 AM UTC

streptomycin wrote: post #56

ianferrel wrote: post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Isn't most non-condom birth control primarily intended for couples? All the other types prevent pregnancy only. Condoms prevent disease as well.

In theory, maybe. In practice, no. Condoms are way out of fashion these days among the young sexually active crowd.

I don't know why you were downvoted for this because, at least in my town, this is completely true. The rate of single young[1] people getting pregnant is through the roof... and the attitude (from some young people I know personally) seems to be "whatever, fuck it"

[1] I mean 18 to 21 year olds.

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

#127

Post by esrauch » Fri, Mar 30, 2012, 1:48 AM UTC

njharman wrote: post #110

esrauch wrote: post #72

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I would rather pump my body full of hormones than have invasive surgery. You wouldn't?

Fuck no. Hormones (and most other injections) has way more impact / risk / effect than a tiny cut. I cut myself several times a month, badly a few times year. (too lazy to wear gloves when doing yard work, accidents etc). I know what a cut is / does. No idea what putting crap in my body will do.

You cut yourself badly a few times a year? To each his own, but that sounds fucking crazy to me. I manage to live my life both without artificial hormones and without non-emergency invasive surgery and I haven't had as much a a paper cut in as long as I can remember, probably over 10 years. Also I am not pregnant or had any pregnancy scares.

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

#128

Post by spacemanaki » Fri, Mar 30, 2012, 1:57 AM UTC

dkersten wrote: post #126

streptomycin wrote: post #56

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In theory, maybe. In practice, no. Condoms are way out of fashion these days among the young sexually active crowd.

I don't know why you were downvoted for this because, at least in my town, this is completely true. The rate of single young[1] people getting pregnant is through the roof... and the attitude (from some young people I know personally) seems to be "whatever, fuck it" [1] I mean 18 to 21 year olds.

On HN for 1310 days and you don't know why streptomycin was downvoted? Bit surprising.

It's because he or she offers no references or even any explanation of where this bold (if not just flat out wrong) claim comes from. Your supporting evidence, commonly derided as anecdata, is not much better.

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

#129

Post by schiffern » Fri, Mar 30, 2012, 1:58 AM UTC

enduser wrote: post #87

Lazare wrote: post #82

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Of course, it also lowers sex drive[1], while causing weight gain, cancer[3], and heart problems[4]. For historical reasons IUDs are uncommon in the US. This is unfortunate. They aren't perfect, but they are relatively cheap, extremely reliable, and remarkably safe. Depending on the type, they also have few or no side effects. Worth considering... [1]: This one arguably isn't a health benefit, but in many ways it's h…

I have known several women with non-hormonal IUDs, and they all have reported the side-effect of mild-to-extreme aggravation of menstrual cramping. When the body is trying to clear out, it just doesn't like having a foreign agent that won't budge. No silver bullet.

>No silver bullet.

My partner and I use Implanon, which has no associated cancer or heart risk. See my post: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=3774010

It's not perfect, but the side-effects are small and it's the most effective form of birth control besides true abstinence (as opposed to "virginity pledges," et al). Works for three years, nothing to remember, no risk of uterine perforation like IUDs, and none of the nasty estrogen side-effects.

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

#130

Post by esrauch » Fri, Mar 30, 2012, 1:58 AM UTC

xibernetik wrote: post #85

esrauch wrote: post #72

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I would rather pump my body full of hormones than have invasive surgery. You wouldn't?

As far as invasive surgeries (and birth control) goes, it's really not that invasive if it can be performed in 15 minutes without general anesthetic by a regular doctor. Even IUDs require more time than that. Would you still be okay with the hormones if they caused you to gain 15 lbs of fat, lose your libido and render your SO unattractive to you? It's not as simple as swallowing a pill every morning and getting on w…

What you are describing is a possible effect, but there is no way that is the median side effect of standard oral birth control.

This type of claim always comes up whenever there is any story about new birth control. The effects of the hormones cannot possibly be worse than just not having sex since you always have the option to not have sex or always use condoms. I simply cannot believe that it is so bad considering literally every girl I know, even the ones without boyfriends and who aren't having sex or planning to have sex in the immediate future. Everyone I know in person talks just as much about how it clears up their acne as the negatives that are always posted in the comments here.