The title pretty much sums it up- why isn’t there a version of the birth control pill for men? Surely it’s possible to retard the production of sperm without impacting the ability to orgasm, the quality/sensation of ejaculation, or the overall libido?
In the last two weeks I read an article discussing one under development. It deforms the sperms’ heads, and is reversible. Off to the searches!
Hormonally it’s quite simple to prevent the release of an ovum each month. It’s much more complicated to prevent the production of billions of viable sperm on a daily basis.
Doubtless someone will be along with cites soon.
QtM, MD
Well first off women produce 1 egg a month while for men :
“The testes are a man’s sperm production factories. On average around 300 million sperm are produced by them every day. The testes also produce the male sex hormone testosterone that is responsible for a man’s physical characteristics”
from: BBC-mens health
There are specific monthly hormonal cues that signal a woman’s body to ovulate, these cues can be manipulated(sort of). Men’s sperm production is an ongoing assembly line.
They are working on it though, see New Male Birth-Control Options May Be on the Way
on preview I see I am slow, well you can read the article 
Possibly, but you might also have to put up with slower liver cell regeneration or blood cell production. The process of sperm production doesn’t have as many unique hormonal oddities as ovulation. That makes it harder to mess with without screwing up other things as well. The absence of a male pill doesn’t come from a lack of research into how to make one.
Male birth control pill on way?
Now, how many ladies would trust a man to take it?
“Come on sweetie! Trust me, I’m on the pill!”
I think Attrayant has a good point. The demand for a male pill probably isn’t really very high - from either men or women.
On the contrary, ruadh, I think it might be a source of relief for some guys to know for certain that at least one of them was really on the pill. I’m not inferring anything about anyone, but I know I’d feel better having that much more control over the potential to procreate (or not, as the case may be.) I know I’m not the only guy who’s got friends that hooked up with “the wrong girl” who “oops! forgot to take the pill! silly me!” and were saddled with an unwanted child. This isn’t about situations like that, it’s about preventing, or adding a layer of protection against, situations like that.
More accurately, it’s about giving more control over the potential to procreate to men. Safety aside, condoms don’t always work.
I disagree. I think for married couples and steady relationships there would be quite a demand. I know I want it already.
I recall reading that there was another male BC pill developed in the past, but the effectiveness rate was very low and the side effects were reportedly awful, and I don’t believe it ever got past the animal-testing stage.
Interesting to hear that something new is being developed. I’d buy it and check it out.
Is it too much trouble to use a condom? Hmmm?
Heck, I see a huge demand for ANYONE, regardless of seriousness of the relationship. One-night stand? Use a condom and the male pill - you’ve got double protection. Budding relationship? You don’t have to worry about her forgetting to take her pill, since you’ve already taken yours.
In any case, you don’t have to be concerned that she may have forgotten. For the more devious-minded, you don’t have to worry that she may have poked holes in the condom (yes, it’s happened - I could probably get a cite if needed).
I’d buy them the minute they came out.
The use of a condom is not to protect against accidental pregnancy, that is merely secondary. It is protection from STD.
No protection against STD? Oh my, what a caring character you are!
As one in a monogamous marriage, there are times when the wife and I may not want her to get pregnant. The female Pill has physical side effects, as we all know, and we both prefer the sensation of skin-on-skin contact, plus other things that cannot be acheived while wearing a condom. It would be our preference to use this male contraceptive pill and continue NOT using condoms, assuming it’s suitability and effectiveness. Besides, if it has a better success rate than 3%, and fewer side effects, it is a winner.
The answer has to do pretty much with who gets pregnant. If there is a fire, you don’t throw water on the matches. Back when “the pill” first came out there was talk of a male pill. Everytime, a male pill comes along (mostly trial basis), the pill has bad side effects. Unless, this changes, it seems to me a “no-brainer”. Women can take a pill that has acceptable side effects (this isn’t my opinion, it is why they are allowed on the market). Sure, there is a demand or else they wouldn’t still be trying to develop a pill for males.
Well considering the OP is in regards to preventing conception not spread of disease why pick on him.
Sheesh are you automatically assuming that thinksnow is some kinda of fountain of disease or something. If he knows he/she is clean then his level of caring has little to do with condom use.
I also curious what kinda of cites you might offer to your comment about condoms not being for prevention of pregnancy. When I have used one it wasn’t due to concerns of disease it was concerns of unwanted pregnancy.
If I was that worried about what kind of diseases a person might have I would not have gone there in the first place. How desparate do you have to be to think “hmmm yeah I know she has syphilis, but I’ll just whip out a jimmy hat and its all good” :rolleyes:
Ever try to start a fire with wet matches??
Oh sure, some people would want it. But the disastrous teen pregnancy rate shows why there is little demand for contraceptives among younger people. Too many young stoopid guys don’t care about the possibility of getting a girl pregnant. Those are the girls who aren’t going to trust Johnny One-Night when he says he’s on the pill. On the other hand, Johnny One-Night has no trouble trusting the girl when she says she’s on the pill.
There’s a world of promiscuous sex out there.
Yes there is, but the female contraceptive pill is in quite wide usage, I would surmise. Because there are stupid people does not mean the smart people should not have another choice.