Is a Male Birth Control Pill On the Horizion?

After many rumors, research and testing, the healthcare industry is bracing itself for a huge revolution. The male birth control pill. Honestly, it's about time. Since the introduction of the Pill, women have had the choice to postpone pregnancy until a time that they were ready. Although there has been a great deal of debate about the affordability, safety and effectiveness of oral contraceptives, they have always been issues that women dealt with. Now, it seems that men will soon be able to make the same choice.



A medical research team at the University of Kansas School of Medicine has just announced that they have come up with a product that could prevent the production of sperm in males, without side effects or any permanent decrease in fertility. The medication, called H2-gamendazole, has been shown to prevent sperm from developing, making the men who take it infertile. The research team expects that patients won't see any decrease in libido and that they would regain full fertility within two weeks of stopping the medication.



Although there has been so much research into developing a male contraceptive, this one is already being tested on volunteers.



It has been more than 50 years since the first oral contraceptive hit the market and caused a female revolution. Suddenly, women had a way to prevent early marriage and parenthood. Instead, they were able to decide when the time was right to have a child. Now, men will be able to prevent unintended pregnancy as well and will be able to take greater responsibility for their own reproduction.



The idea of a male birth control option raises many questions: Will men be willing to take it? Can women trust their partner who says they are taking it? Will it cause men as a group to understand and share the burden of birth control?



It's hard to say for sure. For now, the contraceptive options for men have been limited to condoms, vasectomies or interruption of intercourse.Even with these fairly dismal options, more and more men are taking on the responsibility of preventing unintended pregnancy. It would stand to reason that if there was an affordable, safe method of making themselves infertile until they decided to have a child, they would use it.



As to whether or not women would be willing to leave the decision and responsibility up to their partner, it is the same dilemma that men have been facing since the Pill was first introduced. There have been many cases of women who have lied about taking (or not taking) them. In either case, oral contraceptives are intended for couples who have a high degree of trust. Since they don't protect against STIs, condoms are still the first line of defense for couples who aren't involved in a monogamous relationship.



Although the product won't be available any time soon, the researchers are confident in the drug and are in the process of getting the Food and Drug Administration to authorize human trials. If all goes well, we could see the new product on the shelves within a decade.



What impact do you think a male birth control pill will have on healthcare? Do you think it is a good thing? Why or why not?