The Future of Male Birth Control
/Hormonal patches, intrauterine devices (IUDs), NuvaRings, contraceptive sponges, cervical caps, tubal ligation, and the pill. What common theme unites these items? They are all examples of different contraceptive methods. Moreover, another important factor that these items share is that they are all forms of female birth control. Being some of the most common forms of contraception, this helps to illustrate how women unfairly bear most of the contraceptive burden. Currently, there is a striking disparity between the number of contraceptive methods available for women compared to men, as women have numerous different birth control options, while men only have two: condoms or vasectomies (Ahmed et al., 2024, p. 1653). Despite researchers' ongoing efforts since the 1970s to formulate a male contraceptive pill, there is still no hormonal contraceptive available for men (Dismore et al., 2016). This raises an important question, if it usually takes two individuals to conceive a child, why are women continually forced to assume responsibility for pregnancy prevention planning?
This blog will explore some of the arguments in favour of increased male contraceptive options, while also highlighting arguments that oppose the development of novel male contraceptives. It is important to note this blog will use the term ‘male’ when referring to individuals who produce sperm, and ‘female’ for individuals who produce eggs, although it is recognized that not all individuals who use male or female contraceptives will identify with these terms.
One of the main arguments in support of increased male contraceptive options is that they would allow for contraceptive responsibility to be shared more equally between partners (Peterson, et al., 2019). Rather than forcing women to assume the majority of contraceptive responsibilities, male contraceptives would help to alleviate some of the burden on women, while also providing another way to further support women’s contraceptive use beyond simply financial, logistical, and socioemotional means (Nguyen, 2024). Results from a recent study in the United States found that most men (approximately 7 out of 10) shared common attitudes that decisions about when to have children should be made by both partners and that children should be a shared responsibility among partners (Nguyen, 2024). Furthermore, this study found an independent correlation between these beliefs about shared responsibilities and men’s willingness to take male birth control in the future (Nguyen, 2024). These findings illustrate the importance of changing narratives from contraceptive usage being a woman’s responsibility to instead being a shared duty, as this could further influence greater male contraceptive usage willingness (Nguyen, 2024).
Additionally, supporting the development of additional male contraceptives could also help reduce the rates of unplanned pregnancies. Introducing more male contraceptive options would allow men to have more control in preventing unintended pregnancies, beyond wearing a condom or getting a vasectomy (Peterson et al., 2019). Currently, rates of unplanned pregnancies around the world are very high, with studies suggesting that nearly 44% of all pregnancies are unintentional (Abbe et al., 2020). Research on women who had unplanned pregnancies reveals that many of them did not use contraceptives, or they used unreliable methods such as withdrawal (Abbe et al., 2020). One of the prominent reasons why women reported a lack of reliable contraceptive usage is due to their associated side effects and health concerns (Abbe et al., 2020). Moreover, when women stop using contraceptives, this increases the risk of pregnancies, especially due to the lack of presence of male contraceptives. Recent studies suggest that new male contraceptive options could have a positive impact on unplanned pregnancies, as they have the potential to reduce rates in the United States by 3.5-5%, and by over 30% in other developing regions of the world (Abbe et al., 2020).
On the other hand, a concern of increased male contraceptive options is their potential side effects. Although side effects are an important consideration when developing novel contraceptives, it is important to remember that some of the first contraceptives available for women had associated side effects and risks that outweighed the overall benefits of the contraceptive (Nguyen, 2024). This illustrates a double standard whereby women are expected to tolerate the side effects associated with contraceptives, but many trials for new male contraceptives are quickly discontinued in the presence of side effects. For example, one study that tested the efficacy of a hormonal male injection contraceptive, which showed promising results for sperm suppression in its preliminary trials, was ultimately discontinued due to concerns of potential side effects including acne, increased libido, mood disorders, and pain at the sight of injection – all of which are common side effects of female contraception (Nguyen, 2024). The constant discontinuation of research in the presence of side effects further proves how society has unfairly normalized the side effects associated with birth control for women (Donegan, 2019). Furthermore, another study that assessed men’s willingness to use various forms of new male birth control found that men had a very low anticipated willingness to tolerate potential side effects (Martins & Boraas, 2023). Specifically, less than 10% of the men in the study said they would be willing to tolerate side effects including acne, mood swings, fatigue, headaches, weight gain of 10 to 20 pounds, and/or increased/decreased libido, which are present in various forms of hormonal female birth control (Martins & Boraas, 2023).
Another argument that opposes the development of new male contraceptives concerns their predicted low uptake. One of the major reasons for the lack of funding and resources allocated towards male contraceptive research and their development is due to the belief that men would not use them (Nguyen, 2024). Global findings suggest that existing male contraceptives, comprising of condoms and vasectomies, only account for approximately 8.9% of contraceptive use (Peterson et al., 2019). Furthermore, vasectomies are less often selected as a primary form of contraception compared to other forms of female sterilization methods (Nguyen, 2024). One study from 2008 found that only 6% of couples in the United States who used contraception relied on vasectomies, whereas 17% of couples relied on tubal ligation or other forms of female sterilization (Nguyen, 2024). Even though vasectomy procedures are objectively safer and simpler than female sterilization methods, there is still a significant disparity in their rate of usage (Nguyen, 2024). Moreover, this illustrates the concern that even if additional forms of male contraceptives are developed, men might not choose to use them.
Overall, the debate surrounding the development of additional male contraceptive options is ongoing. Although it is valid to show concerns about the potential risks of new male contraceptives, it is also important to actively address misinformed assumptions about side effects and biases towards who bears the burden of contraception and its side effects (Peterson et al., 2019). This can be achieved through implementing awareness programs aimed at educating men about the safety of male birth control and its minimal side effects (Ahmed et al., 2024). In order to increase men’s interest and willingness to use prospective male birth control, education will be a crucial factor. Through promoting a greater awareness of novel male contraceptives among men, and exposing men to women’s experiences and challenges with contraception, we can begin to foster a society that shares contraceptive responsibilities more equally.
Jordan Ross (she/her), fourth year psychology major.
References
Abbe, C. R., Page, S. T., & Thirumalai, A. (2020). Male contraception. The Yale Journal of Biology & Medicine, 93(4), 603–613.
Ahmed, H., Memon, A., Hoda, F., & Alvares, J. (2024). The male birth control pill – A new approach to family planning and population control. The International Journal of Health Planning and Management, 39(5), 1652–1657. https://doi.org/10.1002/hpm.3823
Dismore, L., Van Wersch, A., & Swainston, K. (2016). Social constructions of the male contraception pill: When are we going to break the vicious circle? Journal of Health Psychology, 21(5), 788–797. https://doi.org/10.1177/1359105314539528
Donegan, M. (2019, June 6). It's time for men to step up and share responsibility for birth control. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/jun/05/male-birth-control-step-up-responsibility
Martins, S. L., & Boraas, C. M. (2023). Willingness to use novel reversible methods of male birth control: a community-based survey of cisgender men in the United States. Contraception and Reproductive Medicine, 8(1), 41–41. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40834-023-00242-y
Nguyen, B. T. (2024). Male contraceptive acceptability versus male acceptance of contraceptive responsibility. Andrology (Oxford), 12(7), 1585–1589. https://doi.org/10.1111/andr.13719
Peterson, L. M., Campbell, M. A. T., & Laky, Z. E. (2019). The Next Frontier for Men’s Contraceptive Choice: College Men’s Willingness to Pursue Male Hormonal Contraception. Psychology of Men & Masculinity, 20(2), 226–237. https://doi.org/10.1037/men0000174