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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

#181

Post by rdl »

jemfinch wrote: post #137
philwelch wrote: post #136

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes; I was conceding that I've never had sex with someone who has an IUD, only talked to them. You'd have to ask nekitamo what exactly one should learn from having sex with someone who has an IUD.

As someone who has sex on a regular basis with (one) woman who has an IUD, my experience has been that it has no impact whatsoever if installed properly. The uterus (where an I U D lives, naturally) is not typically involved in the act of sex.

I've never noticed the IUD, but I did notice the NuvaRing (it wasn't bad or obtrusive, just "uh, wtf is that?")

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

#182

Post by celerity »

celerity wrote: post #138

First of all, it's still in trials. Second of all, what should set off an immediate alarm is the claim of "100% effectiveness" (and safety for that matter, what if the doctor screws up and cuts your tubes?). No, thanks.

In fact, if you check the Wikipedia article for this thing you will see a large amount of controversy and problems that the article just ignores. That alone is enough for me to not consider this seriously. It would indeed be nice if this form of birth control were real, but as things stand it's just vaporware for medicine.

It's really amazing to me how many people believe anything they want to hear...

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

#183

Post by juliano_q »

tomp wrote: post #168
dr_ wrote: post #146

Earlier quoted context omitted.

female to male transmission rates are really low in general.

It can't be that low... How do men (heterosexuals) get infected then?

The contamination of heterosexuals man is hard. It happens, but is very hard. This information is not well spread because it can stimulate men to stop using condoms and increase the risk for women.

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

#184

Post by rada »

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.

From personal experience with both hormonal and non-hormonal contraception (Pill vs. copper IUD), I suspect the reported aggravation is due to the fact that the Pill reduces said "aggravation", and once you are off the hormones, you feel like it's worse but it's really just back to normal.

In general, when the IUD is installed correctly, the body does not perceive it as a foreign object or try to reject it or move about and puncture holes or increase the levels of copper in the blood or [insert another myth that seems to make intuitive sense but has no scientific or observed basis].

(There is one myth that has near truth to it. The common misconception that you have to have been pregnant to get it. This is not true either - the uterus just has to be big enough to house the IUD comfortably and and it's virtually guaranteed that a post-pregnancy uterus is. However for most pre-pregnancy women this not a problem either, and a size check is the first step during the installation process).

The benefits on the other hand are real, and huge. Reduced risk of hormone-associated cancers, noticeably increased sex-drive, better hair, nails, and skin, not having to take a pill every day, less money, statistically better protection from pregnancy, the list goes on.

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

#185

Post by rdl »

manmal wrote: post #165
henryprecheur wrote: post #145

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That policy is a bit risky. That might diminish the use of other things that reduce significantly the spread of HIV, like condoms. It's still unknown how effective the gel is: maybe 90%, maybe 5%, condoms are 90% effective AFAIK[1]. [1] http://www.advocatesforyouth.org/publications/416

I doubt that a contraceptive with 5% effectiveness would make it this far in trials. Even "pulling out" is more effective than 5%.

Also, contraceptive success is usually annualized, like with correct condom use, pregnancy happens less than 3 percent per year. I assume there is a standardized level of sexual activity for that, too.

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

#186

Post by rdl »

tomp wrote: post #168
dr_ wrote: post #146

Earlier quoted context omitted.

female to male transmission rates are really low in general.

It can't be that low... How do men (heterosexuals) get infected then?

IV drug use is a major vector still.

Also, HIV transmission is more likely with other STDs. If you have open syphlitic sores on your penis, you are more likely to contract HIV.

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

#188

Post by rdl »

natasham25 wrote: post #54

I've asked my guy friends whether they would get this procedure, and none of them will. Guys expect women to mess with their bodies, but are not willing to make the sacrifice themselves when it comes down to it, even though this is more safe and harmless than pumping your body with hormones every day.

I would definitely get this; already considering vasectomy.

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

#189

Post by roc »

dfc wrote: post #97
paulhauggis wrote: post #65

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You would think after the aids scare of the 80s and 90s this wouldn't be the case.

It would not be the case with people that were alive and mature enough at the time to be cognizant of the situation. I think the OP is referring to people who were not around at the time...

Not to mention that HIV/AIDs is no longer the death sentence that it used to be. So even among those who are cognizant of what it was like in the 80s, they also know that it isn't like that anymore.

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

#190

Post by Retric »

tomp wrote: post #168
dr_ wrote: post #146

Earlier quoted context omitted.

female to male transmission rates are really low in general.

It can't be that low... How do men (heterosexuals) get infected then?

2% per event = 50% after 35 events.

Assuming 1% of partners have AIDS and someone had 10 partners and 35 events per partner.

.01 * (1 - .98)^ 35 = 0.5% per partner. And 1- (1 - .005) ^ 10 = ~5% chance of an infection in a lifetime.

Or working the other way if the average person with aids has 35 'events' per partner and 2.1 partners after infection the infection rate will increase.

PS: Real models include differing M/F infection rates, stratification by age and other vectors like transfusions and IV drug use.

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