Male Birth Control on the Horizon

More than 40 years after the birth control pill became available to women to prevent unwanted pregnancy, researchers have slowly begun working to provide a male equivalent to the Pill. Recent work includes discovering the proper dosages, types of male hormones that are most effective, and the best method for delivery (injections, pills, or creams or gels applied to the skin) for male hormonal contraception. Testosterone is the most studied male hormone for birth control. The addition of progesterone to the hormonal mix has more recently been under the scrutiny of medical research. Some researchers have found that adding progesterone to testosterone helps increase the success of male hormonal contraceptives. Although progesterone is generally considered a female hormone, men naturally produce a small amount of this hormone. It may still take several years before a male contraceptive makes it to the market; however, things are definitely looking like male hormonal contraception will one day be a reality, according to a recent Los Angeles Times report.

Surveys of women, in several countries, show that the majority of women wouldn't mind, at all, if their male partners became the one who is responsible for birth control. What do you think about the idea of male contraceptives? Would you ask your male partner to use hormonal birth control if it becomes available to men?

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