Male pill

[sarahquilt]

The Guardian says that they're starting to run trials on this. I think it's a great idea which will give men more control over their reproduction. I'm curious to see what others think.

First thought is that as spermatogensis is a constant procedure, and that it takes weeks/months to clear the vas/ampullae of potentially viable sperm, you are going to need someone who is fanatical about taking it and never gets conditions that affects absorption to make it worthwhile.

That's interesting - didn't realise that.

The Valsagel (mentioned only briefly in the middle of the article) is probably a more likely male contraceptive, and is much further along in terms of human testing.

I'm going to see if I can find more about what's happening in Monash, but it seems to be on mice only at the moment. So even if promising, the laws on drug approvals mean it will take years from an effect being noticed in an animal to a tested, reliable version being available for humans.

I dont know if I would trust it tbh as if it fails then its still the woman that gets pregnant

Well, I think that a woman would still have her own contraception too to make sure. It would just mean that for men who took it conscientiously, it would lessen the risk of accidents.

"The Guardian says that they're starting to run trials on this. I think it's a great idea which will give men more control over their reproduction. I'm curious to see what others think."

Didn't realise the Guardian were branching out into these areas? ;)

It's great. All good I can't see why anyone would see it as a bad idea. Any woman who says "I wouldn't trust him" or whatever will still have her own method of contraception, and its an additional way to protect both parties in case of contraception failure.

30something

DH and I took part in trials for the "male pill" between DS1 and DS2. It was to hit the market in about 5 years time.

DS2 is 25 this year.

There have been new announcements every five years or so since then, always to be ready in five years...

And I've just noticed this thread was started a year ago...

I can't find any up to date news on these developments? If the story is a year old, then there has presumably been movement since then?

Incidentally a mate of mine swears by heat methods for contraception!

This is interesting because of an article I read the other week about Dr Carl Djerassi, the inventor of the contraceptive pill (he has recently died).

It said As for the idea of a male Pill, he memorably said: 'Scientifically, we solved that a number of years ago. But . . . would you, as a woman, put your entire reproductive risk in the trust that he has remembered his Pill?'

The article was by Libby Purves if you want to look it up but I don't want to be shouted at for doing a DM link .

Same quote (well almost) in The Guardian from 2007 but he also has this to say:-

Just think about the power relations involved, he argues: a male Pill, which theoretically would allow men to share the burden of contraception, would, in fact, take away women's control over their own fertility - and potentially, everything the original Pill gave us along with it. In other words, a male Pill would set us back at least 50 years.

I suppose he has got a point but then if someone is that controlling would you want children with him anyway?
It's a minefield, that's for sure.

would, in fact, take away women's control over their own fertility -

I have never believed that this was a particularly good argument. Women would still have control of their fertility, they could leave the relationship if they were that bothered.

All it really does is remove the potential for those "happy little accidents"

I think it would liberate both men and women. My cousin (male) has just found out they are expecting, despite the fact his wife is on the pill. He is not happy about it. I guess he should have worn condoms too!