Male Oral Contraceptive Discussion

[Flashpoint]

Originally Posted by Nehkara

...so missing a few wouldn't be a big deal.

Exactly the attitude I would expect to lead to problems.

And yes. I think young women tend to be far more responsible than young men in a lot of circumstances. Maybe it is a bias because of my own behavior in youth, but if I was taking a daily pill odds are I would barf it back up at least twice a week due to post hockey beer libations.

My experience is that when it comes to personal hygene (and I think this falls into that category), the ladies have us dudes licked.

[Dan02]

Am i the only one here who thinks that suppressing the testorterone levels might not be a good thing for a guy?

[Thunderball]

Originally Posted by Dan02

Am i the only one here who thinks that suppressing the testorterone levels might not be a good thing for a guy?

You're not. Its a very questionable and dubious concept. Like I said, a lawsuit waiting to happen.

"I took Semenada(TM) for six months and now I'm sterile"
"I took Spermaway(R) for nine months and I have no body hair and I grew bosoms"
..."We want 900 million dollars!"

[sclitheroe]

Originally Posted by Thunderball

"I took Spermaway(R) for nine months and I have no body hair and I grew bosoms"
..."We want 900 million dollars!"

You mean I could fondle my own boobs????

[Thunderball]

Originally Posted by Nehkara

First of all, of course sex is a mutual act... and both parties should be equally willing and able to take the initiative to prevent pregnancy. Men should have more than two options in taking part in preventing pregnancy, and they should have (as was nicely said by comrade) more self determination.

Right now, there's two. Stick a glove on it, or snip the tubes. Or, have the woman apply AT LEAST ONE of many alternatives. Nothing says that you only have to use one contraceptive.


Secondly, many men in trusting and loving relationships have become fathers when they did not want to simply because the woman has the ultimate control over contraception in most relationships. This happens both by accident and on purpose. I think a good number of men would welcome the increased degree of self determination that would come with a viable long term contraceptive solution. It is certainly not as easy as "if you think she might, then dump her". Most men never suspect that their girlfriend/fiance/wife would do something like that but it happens anyway. You can call them whatever you want but it happens more often than you would think.

If they were that concerned, they use a condom, or a spermicidal sponge as well as birth control pills. It happens, you're right... but it goes with the territory. Most guys I know that have intercourse with only the pill are not overly concerned if one slips past the goalie and they end up having a kid, if it happens, it happens and they deal with it. Sex is not risk-free. If someone is having sex outside of a relationship, they should be wearing a condom to protect from STIs. No pill is going to protect from that anyway. Like it or not, guys outside committed, monogamous relationships should ALWAYS wear condoms.

Thirdly, you have to be kidding me. The amount of resources in the pharmaceutical industry is HUGE. They could have done this long before now with little effort and money. Also, the lawsuit arguements are moot... if the drug is well-made it should have no large lawsuit problems... and if you want to completely avoid lawsuits then you might as well stop research into medicine altogether.

Lawsuit arguments are moot, hey? Better tell the guys defending Vioxx to the tune of a couple billion dollars that its okay, they shouldn't have problems cause its been tested. There's also a huge difference between a medically required pharmaceutical and a recreational/cosmetic one, and I think you're seriously missing that. There is no motivating factor from a medical point of view about male contraceptive. There is absolutely no health benefit. Condoms are totally effective unless they break. If they break, you'll know. If they do, there's the morning after pill, if she's not already on the pill to begin with. Even Viagra has medical benefit. Erectile Dysfunction is a medical condition. Guys are supposed to be able to get it up well into their elderly years. If they can't, its a problem. Research into that was warranted medically.

Birth Control pills for women on the other hand DO HAVE SIGNIFICANT MEDICAL BENEFITS and were not designed exclusively so women can fornicate at will. They were designed because many women do not have balanced chemicals during menstruation causing many serious side effects. More often than not, girls are prescribed birth control during puberty and well before they become sexually active. For many, its about maintaining a healthy cycle.

Also, I would definitely be in favour of research into restoring fertility to men who have lost it as well as into causes for losing fertility. It is also an important issue.

This we agree with. To me, this is where the attention belongs, and if that means 10-15 years before the early adopters can try Sperm Stopper, then that's just the way it is.

...

[GreenLantern]

Ok so lets do some math, with a girl on birth control and a man on birth control, what is the chance a girl can still get pregnant?

Assuming the male birth control will be just as effective as the female.

< 1%?

[Torture]

Originally Posted by Dan02

Am i the only one here who thinks that suppressing the testorterone levels might not be a good thing for a guy?

That was pretty much my first thought when I read the post.

[Nehkara]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern

Ok so lets do some math, with a girl on birth control and a man on birth control, what is the chance a girl can still get pregnant?

Assuming the male birth control will be just as effective as the female.

< 1%?

The chances would be almost 0. It would take both forms of birth control not working at the same time.

[stang]

Do what I do...

Pull and Pray!!

[Bring_Back_Shantz]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern

Ok so lets do some math, with a girl on birth control and a man on birth control, what is the chance a girl can still get pregnant?

Assuming the male birth control will be just as effective as the female.

< 1%?

Well that depends on how effective each method was.
If we're talking straingt up probability, you're looking at both methods having a 90% effectiveness to have a 1% chance on both.

I think the pill's effectiveness is somewhere north of 98% (correct me if I'm wrong), so with another contraceptive that is in that range you've got a pretty low shot at getting a girl knocked up.

Incedentially, this is why I think it's a good idea to always double down on the birth control. Even if I'm dating a girl who I know is on the pill, I still use condoms to make sure that the risk is minimal. Hell I've even asked a girlfiend to go on the pill, and when she did, we kept using the jimmycaps.

Why? Because as much as I don't like having to put them on, I figure it's a lot easier than changing a diaper 5 times a day for a couple years.

[Agamemnon]

Originally Posted by Dan02

Am i the only one here who thinks that suppressing the testorterone levels might not be a good thing for a guy?

Don't female birth control pills affect their hormone levels as well? What's the diff?

[Dan02]

Originally Posted by Agamemnon

Don't female birth control pills affect their hormone levels as well? What's the diff?

because

insufficient testosterone production can lead to abnormalities in muscle and bone development, underdeveloped genitalia, and diminished virility.

http://www.urologychannel.com/testos...cy/index.shtml

from what i just read on female birth control pills, they increase the hormone levels so your pituitary doesn't release a egg.

[Flash Walken]

Option 3) The Pullout

[CrusaderPi]

Originally Posted by stang

Do what I do...

Pull and Pray!!

The only 100% effective* method of birth control.


*when used correctly.

[stang]

Originally Posted by CrusaderPi

The only 100% effective* method of birth control.


*when used correctly.

I forgot my disclaimer..

*DISCLAIMER* I am married and have a one year old daughter.... so if it doesnt work its not really a biggie to me!!

[HelloHockeyFans]

I have never understood the hate that some guys have for condoms. I've done it without before, but I don't think it'd be more than 4 or 5 times at the very most.

Normally, the girlfriend goes on the pill, and I wear a condom every time. Sure it's less comfortable, but the possibility of her popping out a kid or her giving me something is enough for me to realize the slight loss in feeling is well worth it.

I've got bigger things to look forward to right now in my life that I'd rather not piss away for a good time.

[Sylvanfan]

edit...I'm dead wrong. But I could care less.

In terms of men what can change our hormone levels....hmm...Steroids right? Are there side effects to Steroids? Chances are you start messing with hormone levels the other way...theres a chance that there are side effects. So yeah, Damn straight it is a valid arguement. Are you willing to pay $100 for 10 pills to avoid the hassle of condems? Because if they can't fully test the side effects that's likley what they'll have to charge.

[Ayrahb]

Originally Posted by Dan02

because

"insufficient testosterone production can lead to [...] diminished virility."

I wonder if that is what makes it an effective birth control method. You are just never in the mood.

Although, lowering testosterone in young males might not be a bad idea.

[Nehkara]

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

Well lets face it...Mens bodies aren't designed by nature to have varying hormone levels in terms of a day to day thing. With women it's different because their bodies undergo these changes daily. They also naturally have menopause occur too as they grow older. So as a result there were studies that could be done on hormone levels that could be compared to the natural changes that occur in their bodies daily.

In terms of men what can change our hormone levels....hmm...Steroids right? Are there side effects to Steroids? Chances are you start messing with hormone levels the other way...theres a chance that there are side effects. So yeah, Damn straight it is a valid arguement. Are you willing to pay $100 for 10 pills to avoid the hassle of condems? Because if they can't fully test the side effects that's likley what they'll have to charge.

Funny thing is that you are wrong.

Men's hormonal levels cycle each day and throughout the month. Try again.

[Sylvanfan]

Too bad for me I guess. I still think it's a risky product for anyone to develop as you're looking at users consuming significant amounts of it and than having 50 plus years of living in front of them for future side affects to occur. And really should there be a rush to develop this? Conditions like MS and Cystic Fibrosis need a more pressing solution. We can make due without a male contraceptive. People with those conditions aren't afforded the time to do so.