Poll: Would You Rely on a Male Birth Control Pill?
If a male birth control pill hit the market today, would you rely on it? Pick the answer that best reflects your strongest conviction, men in the first poll, women in the second:
Can’t see the poll? Click here to take it.
I’m with bliss. It’s not that men are any stupider, but I have had quite a bit of trouble remembering, so I would be focused on if my partner remembered. Frankly, I think that the pill, no matter who is taking it (if my partner were on it, I’d probably want to be too as a backup) is difficult and less convenient than a lot of options.
I want the male pill now!!!! I hate being on the pill – it makes my body feel weird, and frankly it’s no secret that condoms suck, the take away a layer of closeness and substitute it with rubber instead – the lube expenses are ludicrous.
And to all the women who wouldn’t trust a man to take birth control? Puh-lease! Can we please treat men like they are actual adults who are just as concerned about the baby thing as we are? I would be very comfortable and relieved if my boyfriend could take the pill and we could engage in coitus anywhere any place with out being all condomy about it…
Look, if you feel more comfortable taking the pill yourself because it gives you maximal control over your own reproductive potential, then great.
But I guffaw at the implication that men would be less responsible about correct, routine pill use than women. HAW!
It’s also going to make him the potential father, which I think should be given some significance. If we want and expect men to be responsible parents, to take care of any children they create–accidentally or otherwise–we need to also acknowledge their role. Your body wouldn’t be able to carry that potential baby without sperm being, in some way, introduced. I still think that the best idea is for both parties to participate in contraception, period; I would never advocate putting the burden entirely on one person. It takes trust on both sides, every time, no matter what. If women don’t allow men to have some power in the reproductive world, then men are never going to see themselves as a part of it, and cue Cat’s in the Cradle. And if male birth control gets shot down simply because women want sole control, I think that’s a tragedy. The idea here, for me, has always ever been more power to more people–not changing power from one to another. I don’t want to take away your rights, or deny you your responsibility; I simply want to increase the rights and responsibility available for everyone.
Look, I have a hard time remembering to take my pill every day. I’m in a long-term, committed (marriage, kids, the picket fence and all) relationship, and despite alerts on my phone, active habit-forming routines, and an alarm clock reminder, I still sometimes forget! Life gets in the way, as it always will, and while I’m massively grateful to my boyfriend for reminding me to take along my pill case when we’re away from home and the like, yes, sometimes I still forget.
So, if I have that much trouble remembering (and its MY body in which a potential baby will be inhabiting, MY life that will be hugely changed)why on earth would I trust that responsibility to someone else? This doesn’t mean that I don’t respect, trust, and love my mate. This doesn’t mean that I don’t think men are incapable of acting like mature, responsible adults. But because I’m a woman, and my body is specifically made for making babies, I believe that means that the weight of birth control lies with ME! And yes, that’s taking into account that my mate and myself have had open, communicative, and clear conversations about our future children.
If tomorrow my mate could suddenly be in control of ‘our’ birth control, I still want to be the one responsible for taking a pill. Its my body. Its my responsibility.
Bec, first of all, the above poll disagrees with what you just said: men would take it, especially if it would be guaranteed to work (and by guaranteed, I mean, it has the same, reliable effects of the female birth control pill, not that it’s perfect). Also, just because a man has decreased incentive to use a condom does not mean that a condom won’t be used; doesn’t the woman’s opinion count for something? Shouldn’t it? The STI risk for both parties is only increased if no condom is actually used. Also, why is it less likely for a man to be able to consistently take the pill than for a woman? Are they less intelligent? Lazy? Wired wrong? I don’t see why a man would be any less capable of properly taking a pill than a woman, especially if he took the initiative of getting on the pill in the first place. Having a man take a birth control pill does not mean that you have to stop using your form of contraception, or that condoms no longer will be used; it simply means that sex is just that much more likely to not end in fertilization and implantation, and that there is just that much more opportunity for responsibility in the bedroom. Your arguments against men taking the pill are basically the same arguments (without the threat of increased promiscuity) that were launched against the advent of the female birth control pill. Just think about it.
I just don’t think any male would take it consistently and even want to take it. Anything that they consider to be a woman’s problem or womanly they would probably not participate in. Also this would decrease a mans incentive to use a condom to protect themselves and would increase risk to STIs for both parties.
i love the thought of the man taking (any/ equal) responsibility for the contraception (without all the whining about how condoms suck and make sex less fun), but to be frank, i don’t trust men to take it consistently enough to be effective. not that men are airheads or anything, but i wouldn’t trust anyone but myself to take care of something that, if it went wrong, would have a massive impact on me. when you are in a loving relationship, both of you are of course impacted by an unplanned pregnancy, but the impact is always greater on the female half. he can choose to walk away, but the girl has to deal, one way or the other. i know that sounds horrible and cynical, but responsibility for and control over your own reproductive system is too precious to put in someone else’s hands. not to confuse the issue, but there are women all over the world who would love to be able to take the birth control reigns from the men in their lives.
It would be a nice change to have the guy take control of birth control. (Apart from condoms)
I mean, it’s a bit unfair that I am the one who has cramps for several days each month (with every pill I tried I got depressions or other problems, so I switched to a IUD) and to have to have a small ambulatory surgery every three years. I mean, he looks after me pretty well after those days and also makes me tea when I feel bad some of the days each months. But I’m pretty sick of those cramps.
Fortunately, it’ll only be about three years of birth control till we can forget about it and start “planning our family”. 🙂
How about this: Both parties take the pill and significantly decrease any chances of offspring. I don’t see why it only has to be one person; using two forms of contraception is usually better than one, no? Also, I have a minor caveat: neither pill protects from STIs. So please, unless you’re monogamous, still use a condom!
Well, what would be the reason you wouldn’t give up using it yourself to let him be the one on the pill?
Ladies’ poll is missing “No, I already use permanent birth control”