Thursday, November 15, 2012

Is the male contraceptive pill a good idea?


For decades the woman has been in charge of taking a contraceptive pill in order to prevent undesired pregnancy…until now. Scientists are working on a new pill that it is going to be used by men. The recent tests on mice have shown positive results; decrease in sperm count and temporary infertility. But the effects on humans are yet unknown. Parallel to this some doctors affirm that there is a need for such pill because “the lack of it has contributed to the number of unplanned pregnancies.” (read full piece of News here!)

The investigation, however, does not refer to the STDs (Sexually Transmitted Diseases). It may be the case that a man who’s taking the pill has sexual intercourse with a woman who has AIDS and he does not wear a condom trusting that avoiding pregnancy is more important. In this hypothetical case taking a simple pill will not prevent him from getting that STD.

For this reason I think that it will be necessary to educate men about the use of the pill before marketing it. Men will have to be aware that the pill will keep you from having a baby, but not from getting a STD. Both condom and pill will be recommended, don’t forget!

5 comments:

  1. I think that even though a girl takes pills, the man should wear a condom. Just for 2 reasons, the condom, as you said, prevent from STD and in a 95 % , from pregnancy. The other reason is that pills, just prevent from pregnancy in a 98%, so using both contracptives at the same time, would mean almost no risk to be an undesired father or from getting those damaging deseases.

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    1. Yes! As I said, men will have to know that they will still have to wear a condom in order to prevent from getting and STD. Better to play it safe, eh?

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  2. I agree with you, the issue here about education, not only about the pill, but also about sexuality. Youngers and adolescents through television and internet have been constantly exposed to sexual inputs (images, words, etc.) and our responsibility as community and future parents is how we can teach young people to be aware and conscious about the problems of STDs, that’s the key.

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    1. That's right, Felipe! The pill it's a very good idea, but it has to come with our social responsibility to teach future generations of the use of contraceptive methods in general.

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  3. I really enjoyed reading this, because not many times you hear or read a men's opinion on the topic. I also really liked the way you talked about. Not only did you mention the advantages, but also the importance of man being educated about contraceptives. Through history we have always been told the things that we should and should not do, as women and how to take care or protect our bodies. I think that in this times we are living in, it is also important for man to know this things, to be educated not only about how the female body works but how their own body works.

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