Female oral contraceptive pills have been in use since the 1960s, but why are there still no oral contraceptives for males? Despite years of promising research and trial results, we appear to be no nearer to a commercially available, on-demand male contraceptive pill. What gives?
In most countries around the world, women and other people who menstruate have access to an array of contraceptive measures, should they want or need them.
In addition to barrier methods, such as female condoms, people with a female reproductive system can undergo tubal ligation — a form of female sterilization — or get a contraceptive implant, birth control shot, contraceptive patch, an intrauterine device (IUD), a vaginal ring, or contraceptive pills.
According to the latest available data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),
Indeed, the
In most countries around the world, there are only two available male contraceptive methods: condoms, the most common barrier method of contraception, and vasectomy, which is a minimally invasive surgical procedure and permanent contraceptive method.
Vasectomies are presented as reversible, but the results of a reversal procedure are not guaranteed. Some medical sources suggest that while the reversal procedure itself has up to a 95% success rate, pregnancy rates following a vasectomy reversal range between 30–70%.
So while vasectomies are quick, easy, and very safe procedures, they may not leave much space for a change of heart regarding reproductive choices.
When it comes to 100% reversible male contraception, the only option is condoms, but many men — and indeed, in many cases, their partners — dislike…
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