The Male Birth Control Pill: We're Still Talking About It & There Is Still Resistance To Put It On The Market

The issue of male birth control pills is one that I have posted about several times on this blog. Just recently I caught two articles that address the on going discussion of a "male pill."

Michael Parsons (which is the author's pseudonym) originally wrote an article on Role Reboot that was also posted on The Good Men Project which is where I found it. The article is called A "Male Pill" Could Have Changed My Life.

Parsons tells the story of how he started out having three children and was a stay at home dad, caring for his three sons of the ages, eight, six, and five. Parsons had planned to return to work as his boys were at the age where they would be in school. A month before school had begun his wife announced that she was pregnant even though she had been taking birth control pills.

It's unfortunate but I can tell you that several of the women I have known have utilized the birth control pill religiously only to have it fail. Each of the women I have spoken to also have known women who have used the pill and later became pregnant.

In the end Parsons ended up getting a vasectomy but had thought about how a male pill would have helped him tremendously. In fact he believes it could have changed his life. His wife continued to go to work while he remained a stay at home dad.

"I’m very happy and proud to be a father of four. I’m very lucky that we can afford our lifestyle on my wife’s salary. But having a safe, reliable male contraceptive would have given me a measure of greater control over my life. Unfortunately for all of us, it still seems to be a wish and a hope."

Parsons goes on to say, "The question I want to ask is: how will things change if we don’t get a male pill? After all, the world is changing. Gender roles are no longer functioning as they used to. Men and women no longer approach parenthood and careers with the same expectations that ruled society in previous generations. The number of stay-at-home dads and breadwinner moms is increasing. I think you’ll agree: It’s about time for men to have more control over their reproductive futures, as well."

It is important to note that over the past two decades there have been talks from scientists about reaching a goal of putting a male contraceptive pill on the market. As I'm sure you've noticed, all that we have on the market are a variety of condoms.

In 2010 I wrote a post on this blog mentioning the 50th anniversary of the birth control pill and how Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center had announced a start in testing a male contraceptive on patients. Unfortunately, researchers are not always able to do so as allocated monies to further their exploration of a male contraceptive are not always available. Part of this reason is because many pharmaceutical companies fear male contraceptives will not bring in enough money. Why not? Because many figure men would not be interested in taking on the responsibility of birth control in the way that women have for so long. To read my post, Finally Researchers Finally Begin Testing Male Contraceptive Pills, click here.

Parson states that the discussion surrounding a male pill often results in an argument of  nature vs. nurture. The nature part of the argument is that some say that a male pill will not be possible as it is biologically more difficult to work within the male reproductive system. The nurture part of it is mentioned in the above paragraph.

At the beginning of Parson's article he mentions how Salon author Tracy Clark-Flory influenced his decision to write an article on this topic as she had recently posted an article herself. Flory's article is called, What Will the "Male Pill" Change?

Flory dives right into the subject when at the start of her article she says, "The birth control pill changed everything for women, allowing greater freedom to pursue higher education, careers and, yes, sex. Now just imagine what kind of social change a contraceptive for men would bring."

Flory spoke to a variety of disciplines including anthropologists, sociologists, sexologists and as she put it, "even some not ending in 'ogist'".

One of the individuals Flory spoke to was a Good Vibrations staff sexologist named Carol Queen. Queen informed Flory that with the use of a male pill men might feel that they are able to have more sex with more partners. Queen said that a male pill might challenge traditional thoughts towards monogamy and offer alternatives to monogamy. 

I am a true believe of monogamy and have never wanted to stray from it. Even so, I believe that anyone has the right to do what they want to do safely. If men and women feel that their options will widen due to a male pill, at least they will be safer going forth.

Queen also warns that "contraception will feel more immediate and necessary than safer sex prophylaxis." The result could be "that pill-popping males may be even less inclined to use condoms".

My suggestion? I recommend that both male and female parties make use of contraceptive pills. I know I would feel a LOT safer.

Queen says, "If women were to have men around who would gladly step up to the plate on this issue, it would, perhaps, shift a ground-level dynamic in male-female relationships having to do with power and trust."

Flory says that this could affect the on going question of whether insurance companies should cover birth control. A male pill might add to the argument that a pill is a form of abortion. Elaine Lissner, director of the Male Contraception Information Project responds to this by stating "As far as the abortion issue, this is about as far away from an egg as you can get." She also says, "Only if you believe that every sperm is sacred and no seed should be spilled can you be against a method like this -- or if like the Catholic Church you oppose 'artificial' contraception."

Another concern of mine in addition to sexist attitudes from big pharma, who believe there is no real reason to market a male pill, is that it seems many men do not know how a pill works for women. I have not taken an official pole or read conclusive studies about this issue and I am no expert but, based on my encounters with male friends and male acquaintances, I have learned that there are men who are happy that a female pill exists, but have no idea how it works. In my view this shows a lack of responsibility and support for their female counterparts. 

In another 2010 post I wrote an article called Men and "The Pill". To read that post click here. Within the blog article I posted a YouTube video called The Sexist Presents: Men Explaining Birth Control. I will repost it for your viewing here.



I believe that many men who engage in intercourse with women are unaware of how the pill and other contraceptives work because they figure it is the woman's job to take care of it. I find this altogether disappointing as I feel that if two people are going to engage in intercourse they should both know what measures they must take to protect themselves. It's a conversation that is important and for whatever reasons there are couples who take the birth control situation for granted.

I also think that when it comes to the pill and condoms (as well as other contraceptives) the bill is rarely split. If two parties are involved in sexual activity why not split the cost? Why leave payment of condoms up to the man and payment of the pill up to women? This furthers the divide.

I've read reports in past articles that have stated that men might not remember to take a pill every day or may not want to take a pill every day. If there are actual men out there who believe they cannot remember to take a pill or use some of the measures women take to remind themselves to take a daily pill, this is either the lamest excuse or an extreme short sighted belief. One that actually dumbs down the male gender. How insulting is that? Very.

It concerns me that there are some men who would be resistant to taking a male pill. It is a sexist notion that taking a pill is a woman's job or a woman's "thing". That if a man were to take a pill then some how they would be less of a man.

If a male pill would actually assist in decreasing pregnancy why not use it? Unfortunately we are at the mercy of big pharma and experts say that a pill for men is not anywhere in our near future.