Male Birth Control Study Nixed After Men Can't

[marybourg]

handle side effects women face daily


A male birth control shot exists and is nearly 96% percent effective at preventing pregnancy, researchers found, but a study on the contraceptive ended early after men taking it reported negative side effects including mood swings, an altered libido and acne. In other words, they experienced side effects faced by women already taking birth control every day. . . .


Ninety-nine percent of sexually active women between 2006 and 2010 had used birth control, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And many forms of birth control widely used by women can result in side effects similar to those experienced by men in the study. . . .

IUDs can cause acne and mood swings and require sometimes painful insertions. Depo-Provera shots can be painful, too. Women who take contraceptive pills are more likely to be treated for depression, research shows.

Read more: http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2016/11/01/male-birth-control-study-nixed-after-men-cant-handle-side-effects-women-face-daily/93088124/

[linuxman]

1. Ummm...

Probably had more to do with being 96% "Effective". That's not birth control. That's roulette.

[Thor_MN]

6. Consider the numbers...

A couple of eggs, at most, vs. millions of sperm.

That said, "% effectiveness" for birth control is usually in terms of a year. So in any given year, while using that method, it's a 1 in 25 shot of failure, not a 1 in 25 chance with each time having sex.

[RandySF]

2. I would sooner get snipped.

[HassleCat]

4. No side effects for me or my sweetie

Good way to go. A little minor pain for a day or two. Well worth it.

[nini]

3. Well we wouldn't want them to not feel ok now would we?

[Skittles]

7. no way could they handle it

they're not as strong

[Ilsa]

9. Isn't that the truth?

Women, moms, just trudge on in pain, dealing with it.

I picked up a virus once that didn't have me vomiting, but just laid me out with extreme fatigue, aches, and a nonstop headache. Hubby was gumbling at me for being so slow to get up and get our kids ready for school, not having the laundry put away, etc.

Two days later he apologized after he caught it. I reminded him that I still had to get certain things done while I was sick, but he just got to lie in bed.

I have no problem at all with sharing my illnesses with anyone who whines at me while I'm sick.

[Vinca]

10. Imagine if men could get pregnant . . .

[davidn3600]

11. The study was halted after one of the men attempted sucide

There were apparently a few men reporting severe emotional problems after having the drug. And there were reports of depression and suicidal thoughts. One of the men attempted suicide. That is what halted the study. These side effects were far higher than researchers expected. So they terminated the study and are apparently going back to the drawing board.

But there is perhaps a more logic problem here with the idea of men taking birth control. Men cannot get pregnant. So men will never fully experience the physical risks and biological realities that women face. Therefore, many men will perform a risk-benefit analysis and find that they simply don't value a drug like this as much as women do. This is a big reason drug companies don't want to spend much money on this. It's because they don't believe there is a market for it. Most men would rather stick with traditional methods, like condoms, than use a drug that causes acne and depression. Men will never feel the fear of getting pregnant.

There is one other problem with this drug...apparently it can take a year before the sperm count returns to normal.