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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

The new male contraceptive - seriously!?!?

106 replies

SundialShadow · 08/02/2017 15:02

Are they trying to set it up for failure?

FFS. They had one job - invent a male concraceptive that men will take and it will work.

Failed at the 2nd hurdle.

For those that don't know, the method of erm... use is an injection in the balls. A needle will have to pearse the sack. How can this not go well I wonder?

"Hello darling, please let me stick this needle in your twin plums there"
"Hold still like a good man"
"Oh do stop screaming"
"At least pull your trousers up before you bolt off down the road"

I guess we are on the pill / condom / cap / pretending to have our periods for another decade at least.

OP posts:
TheWildRumpyPumpus · 08/02/2017 15:32

I'd fully encourage my 2 DSs to have it done when they are of a suitable age.

Sure they'll numb the area first!

Maudlinmaud · 08/02/2017 15:33

Dh laughed and said no way, when I told him about this. It's actually not funny that it's being dismissed like this. Seriously attitudes need to change for this to work, but sadly that will take time.

PaintingOwls · 08/02/2017 15:36

The gel can be dissolved with an injection if you want to ttc before the 2 years are up.

Cornettoninja · 08/02/2017 15:38

This thread really doesn't think much of men or scientists does it?

Fwiw non-permenant contraception for men would be wildly profitable so don't think it's not a case of people not trying.

TroysMammy · 08/02/2017 15:39

Isn't is a very large pill they put in a shoe? It's guaranteed to make them limp Grin

user1478860582 · 08/02/2017 15:40

I hope they don't administer it with the immortal words 'You'll feel a small prick'.......

SpongebobRoundPants · 08/02/2017 15:41

Hey, at least they don't have to endure childbirth.

I'm sure they can handle a little prick on their balls. Grin

SundialShadow · 08/02/2017 15:43

@Cornettoninja - This thread has nothing to do with my views about scientists or men. You are projecting that context in all on your own.

For the record, if I had been around when the coil was announced, I probably would have said something to the effect of 'Women are going to love this method of contraception, I can see them all crying out for joy with the idea of it.... "oh whoopee, let's all lie with our legs akimbo as the doc has to insert a lump of metal (do you take hormonies with yours) up our fannies"

After holding an impromptu poll of the 4 men I work with, they all unequivially declared that they would NOT let someone near their lads with a needle. No way. WHO could have predicted that??

OP posts:
c3pu · 08/02/2017 15:44

I'm a bloke and I'd totally be up for this.

MephistophelesApprentice · 08/02/2017 15:48

I'd be up for this, but I'd need gas/air and a soft landing because needles make me collapse every time.

They'd probably also need some hefty nurses because a needle near my balls would have me in an automatic, if apologetic, foetal position.

FP239 · 08/02/2017 15:48

For the person that asked why men can't take the equivalent of a pill.....if you look into the previous research that has been done on male hormonal contraception, the idea was sound and produced good results regarding reduced fertility in the men. But the poor dears couldn't handle the mood swings, acne and weight gain that was associated with hormone based so every single one was shelved and they went back tot he drawing board.

But women, that's the only real options offered to us! go figure

SaucyJack · 08/02/2017 15:49

Where do you work? 1963?

There are plenty of blokes who are decent enough to take their turn at contraception- not least if it's guaranteed to not be a massive sex drive killer like the fucking Nexplanon implant.

MyKidsHaveTakenMySanity · 08/02/2017 15:49

There was a huge trial for a new male contraceptive pill a while back and they ceased the trial due to side effects. Apparently in some of the subjects it caused things like weight gain, lethargy, emotional upset, depression, loss of libido etc.

And they dumped the idea.

These are all known side effects of the female pill and yet it's okay for us.

Funny huh?

MyKidsHaveTakenMySanity · 08/02/2017 15:50

Ha ha, cross post with FP!

Prompto · 08/02/2017 15:50

I asked DH if this was available, would he get it done? Considering that he's at the GP the week after next to ask about getting a vasectomy, his answer was no "because I don't want a needle in there".

I explained to him that he'll be getting one done for his vasectomy when they inject the local. "Local!? I thought they'd knock me out!?"

He now doesn't want the hypothetical gel or the fucking vasectomy because he doesn't want anyone injecting his balls with anything Hmm

Chickennuggetfeeder · 08/02/2017 15:54

I asked my dp and he just laughed and said no way. Then again i had to get steralized as he wouldnt get the snip so probably not the best person to ask!

scaevola · 08/02/2017 15:55

They haven't trialled a pill for some time, because if are ill or forget one and production restarts and the ampullae are repopulated, then it could be a lengthy wait to demonstrate that any viable sperm which made it through have been flushed out.

The side effects from a reject injectable trial were not trivial, and I don't think language like 'poor dears' is appropriate. And as well as the side effects, there was also the issue of 5% not returning to sperm production during the period of follow up.

SundialShadow · 08/02/2017 16:08

@c3pu - Wouldn't an ear block be of more value to you? Grin

OP posts:
BoredProcrastinator · 08/02/2017 16:08

prompto they might be able to knock your DH if he asks for that. my dh wouldn't even countenance the idea of a vasectomy even though an accidental 3rd baby is something we couldn't cope with.

c3pu · 08/02/2017 16:11

@SundialShadow - Glue ear? Grin

Ohdearducks · 08/02/2017 16:11

Thank you Hairspray and Meph

SundialShadow · 08/02/2017 16:28

^Where do you work? 1963?
There are plenty of blokes who are decent enough to take their turn at contraception^

Where do you get your comprehention skills? The nursery playground? (Not nice when someone does it to you, is it dear?)

This is not about not wanting to 'take a turn at contraception'. This is about not wanting to have a needle stuck in your nutsack. This is the thing that is liable to put some men off. The old metal meeting the delicate meat part of the equation.

If it was a question of having an injection in the nipple or the insertion up the hoo-ha, I would take the insertion every time.

If 30 years of quite frankly god-awful methods of contraception have taught us anything, it is that you need to make the method of delivery palitable to those who are taking it or they will refrain from using it.

OP posts:
Cornettoninja · 08/02/2017 16:35

Fair enough sunshine, maybe I am projecting my own tone of scorn onto comments like 'they still haven't sorted out a male pill?!?' And 'well we have to go through all sorts' (paraphrasing obviously). I'll admit those kinds of comments frustrate me, but that's my issue I obviously. Funny how open to interpretation the written word is...

Fwiw, I just don't believe that men are out to make my life as uncomfortable as possible by not having their own long term contraception, ditto the scientists developing it. It's just not that easy in reality is it? This could be a great development and this thread just feels a bit 'pissing on chips' to me is all.

SaucyJack · 08/02/2017 16:38

So what do you suggest they do? Stop developing LARC for men because of a few muppets who are happy for their wives to have a coil fitted, but won't let "the metal meet the meat"?

No LARC methods are pleasant either in terms insertion or side effects, but a great many women still use them.

I don't really get why this is such an issue for you that they're starting to increase choices for men as well as couples- other than you being weirdly precious and a bit immature about testicles.

BoredProcrastinator · 08/02/2017 16:50

otoh, i wouldn't have a coil mostly because I don't like the idea of a wire thingy in my bits, which is immature, I agree. Luckily I don't have to have it.