Would You Really Trust A Man To Take Birth Control Pills?

January 28, 2010
By [fung'ke] [blak] [chik]

So what he's 60, he needs birth control too!

This morning on the news, I heard a snippet of a story saying that scientists are one step closer to creating a birth control pill for men, after finding a new human sex hormone that could be used to suppress male fertility. At first, I thought sure, that would be an excellent idea. Let men take responsibility from preventing their progeny from popping up all over the world. Why not have another alternative, besides a condom, for men to use, because we all know men use condoms ALL the time (rightttttttttttttttttttttttt).

Right there in that last sarcastic statement is where my feelings changed about the “male pill”.

Do I really want to trust a man to be reliable enough to take a pill on a daily basis? I mean seriously, some men can’t even commit to canceling a date, returning phone calls, etc. etc. So I’m supposed to think there are men out there responsible enough to take a pill?

Hmmm.

I don’t think I’d take those chances.

Also, just as any type of female birth control doesn’t prevent STDs, neither will the “male pill”.  So there is still the lesser of two “evils” involved. Would you rather risk pregnancy or risk an STD? So regardless of the ‘male pill’ it still makes sense to use a condom to at least attempt to protect yourself from catching a bad case of the cooties, some of which are incurable and can ultimately kill your ass.

In defense of men, let me also say, women aren’t the best pill poppers either. I know several men who’ve gotten ‘caught out there’ 9 months later with a baby on the way, because women have either said they were on the pill, or they couldn’t have children to begin with. So women, don’t act like yall are exempt from the “pill” shenanigans either.

What are your thoughts or ideas on the  ‘male pill’?  Would you add it to your arsenal of prophylactics?


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Tags: , , , , , ,

  • Eb
    Hell to the NO I wouldn't trust them but I do feel its a good idea to make them more cognizant of their sexual activities. We have to think ahead about sex all the time, making sure we're shaves, we're taking birth control, etc... and all men have to do is have a condom in their wallet and half of them don't even do that knowing that most chicks keep a stash of their own in their crib so if they had to take a pill it would force them to think ahead a little.
  • If I were on the male pill I would take it consistently. Why not use a condom, male and & female birth control. You can never be too safe. Plus that would eliminate those women who conveniently forget to take their pill and/or poke holes in condoms. lol
  • I don't know about a male BC pill. I kind of feel like even if my man was taking the pill, I'd still be doing my own pill popping on the side because I wouldn't trust him 100%. Even more, I think that a majority of guys will still feel like it's still a woman's responsibility to take BC, so they wouldn't feel as much urgency if they missed one. It would have to take more than scientists making the pill to get men to take it, and require changing the culture surrounding sexual responsibility falling solely on the woman.
  • Reggie
    I'd take them if I could and anyone I was in a relationship with could trust me to take them too. The two children I have now are more than enough for me. I think children are beautiful, particularly the ones that can go home.........

    I love boning just as much as the next guy; but I'd prefer my boning result in nothing but a good night's sleep.
  • CPT Callamity
    Oh please. Like you can trust women up until this point with taking BC pill effectively! How about remembering to take any method at all? I take a multi-vitamin everyday and if the pill was introduced would add that to the regiment. I trust myself more than I would 98% of the ladies who say "hell no" to a man having "enough responsibility.
  • tell 'em why u mad son..lol

    did i not point that out above???
  • CPT Callamity
    Gotcha...I was already typing away before I finished...my bad.
  • My first thought was "hell no!", but some valid points have been made. Responsibility is definitely a two-way street.
  • NO way Jose, would I trust a man with birth control, but at the same time you have to take care of you, and have your own birthcontrol.
  • Peace,

    I already feel like I'm wading into hostile waters with the "WHAT A MAN WON'T DO" meme pretty evident in the tone of the post but alas, I cannot look away from your larger point. Plus I appreciate your candor in saying women are not exempt from failing to tell the truth or do the right thing too. I don't think most men will accept easily that this is a safe alternative nor would it replace the (normally accepted) birth control pill/condom combo that's been as effective as anything present.

    Sex has become a game of control and has long been a study in life or death. Sex involves so many risks as well as rewards, however imbalanced it may be for a person. I believe a reliance on man-made drugs to stop one of the most natural occurrences in nature is a bit of a problem anyway. The bottom line is that if children are that much of a deterrent, be careful with whom and HOW you have with a person. Both genders need to heed that call.

    Furthermore, there should never be unprotected sex between people who wouldn't intend to birth children or risk whatever the outcomes of doing so otherwise.

    PEACE
  • but alas...it's not hostile waters..lol
    no one is ever exempt, neither men or women are perfect, shadiness is everywhere.
    my thing is..if men can accept the fact that a little blue pill will keep them erect, why can't they accept the fact that one will prevent them from making babies? I mean neither one of them are 'natural'.
  • Personally, I foresee gender roles evolving. The male birth control pill is a sure sign that we are. I love the idea of eliminating the gender stereotypes and double standards. Women being SOLEY responsible for birth control being one of them.

    I personally HATE birth control, too many side effects for my taste....since I'm not getting any..then I dont really have the need for them lol

    Yes I trust that SOME men will successfully take their pills, just like women...I can't wait to see this plan in live action LOL.
  • well a lot of men think that women should be solely responsible for it...that's the interesting aspect...
    i'm sure it's years away before we actually see this hit the market...we'll have to wait and see what happens.
  • iNakia
    How apropos for you to make this post. I admin many of the social networks for a large reproductive health organization and there has been a very active participant as of late - advocating for male contraceptives. His argument: If a woman gets pregnant and decides to keep a baby, a man has responsibility he is forced to take on (child support, possible incarceration) even if he decides not to parent. A woman has many options for birth control that SHE controls but a man has the condom or vasectomy. He says that if a man has so much responsibility whether he parents or not, he should have as much of an option to control his contraceptives.
    Now, I can't say I agree with this particular person 100%, but I can kind of see his point.

    Besides, trusting men to take contraception shouldn't really be the question because who says they can trust women to do the same? I do think pharm companies should invest in this research because some men would take it though it's far from a majority demand item. I believe polls have shown that men, even when presented with facts, believe that contraceptives will affect their sexual performance or make them "less of a man." That's why many don't even get vasectomies when they know they intend to father no more children.
  • I understand his point as well, I'm definitely an advocate of men having more options than just a condom, but personally, I still would make use of something else for my own 'good'. The trust issue is definitely something that both genders take issue with. I know if I was a guy, and a woman told me she was using a pill, that still wouldn't stop me from using a condom, but so many men have been tricked by women before (or so they say). It's sad to say, there is that population of trifling people (male/female) out there, who'd lie about such things.

    Men and their prowess will definitely prevent more men from taking a pill, just like you mentioned about the vasectomy issue. In my circle of guy friends, I do know one man, who did get a vasectomy after him & his live-in girlfriend had their first child, because he already knew he didn't want anymore children.
  • iNakia
    Oh no doubt, EACH person should take reproductive responsibility into
    their own hands or check themselves into a convent.

    best,
    ndh
  • LOL @ convent..
    that's a running joke in my office...several of my coworkers have mentioned that's their next step..lol
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