Male Birth Control Pills Could be Coming Soon

Family planning is a topic that gets brought up in most marriages. However, what about those who just don’t think children are for them? Luckily for those people, they are able to have autonomy of this situation and have access to many types of contraception. For the past 60 years the FDA has approved hormonally based birth control as estrogen and/or progesterone pills for women. As we learned from Dr. Campisi, the birth control pills can alter the menstrual cycle and prevent pregnancy. Birth control pills increase the amount of circulation estrogen and progesterone up to 6-8 times higher than normal, which leads to high circulating estrogen during what should be the low hormone week. The follicular phase, or low hormone, is responsible for maturation of the follicle and eventually ovulation. The pill however, can be difficult for some women who have busy schedules, as it has to be taken at the same time everyday. 

Of course there are different types of contraception and even multiple ways a women can have birth control, but what if there was a way that men could choose to take on the responsibility of birth control? Research is heading in the direction to come up with a male birth control pill allowing men to take control of the situation if they choose, without altering their reproductive organs like a vasectomy. The Daily Dot posted an article about the different types of male birth control that are currently being researched. The most similar option to that of female birth control is actually an herbal supplement known as Gendarussa. This supplement inactivates an enzyme on the sperm’s head so that it cannot penetrate the egg, therefore preventing fertilization. The research shows this option to be 99% efficient in a study done with 300 male test subjects. The reason that this type of contraceptive has been difficult to produce is that the male body would need massive amounts of hormones ingested before the function of the testes would be temporarily blocked. Although this research proves to be difficult, there is some progress that this new contraceptive could be available in a few years. Also, as with any type of birth control many ethical issues arise, because of how or when fertilization is prevented. One could argue that male birth control would not be ethical because it would be difficult to justify allowing two people to have intercourse without the intention of reproducing.  On the other side of the argument a scientist could argue that this is showing beneficence and allowing for autonomy. In terms of beneficence, it could prevent emotional distress in many people.

Lampen, C. (2017, November 24). Why isn't a male birth control pill available yet? Retrieved November 25, 2017, from https://www.dailydot.com/irl/male-birth-control/