When it comes to dealing with contraception, the primary responsibility tends to fall on the woman; and this is especially true in monogamous and married relationships where condoms are given up, as there is no longer a perceived need to protect oneself from sexually transmitted infections. When it comes to simply preventing pregnancy with hormonal birth control methods, women often have the final say – as they should – as they are the ones who have to use the method and deal with potential side effects and pitfalls. For decades now, men have been happily going along with this arrangement, as they have not been the ones needing to pop a pill every day or getting shots to avoid becoming with child. Well, guys, the freedom from managing this issue may be coming to an end in the near future, as a new male birth control pill is under way and could be coming to a nearby pharmacy counter very soon. Learn what this new form of contraception could mean for the future of sex and its impact on a man’s sexual health.
The Male Birth Control Pill: Fact or Fiction?
That’s right, ladies around the world may soon be breathing a sigh of relief, or even greeting their partners with a smug smile that says it’s his turn to worry about birth control for a while. Researchers have long toyed with the idea of a male pill, and the science is slowly starting to catch up with the fantasy. While recent versions have not yet been tested on human males, they have made it to the animal testing phase with some success on male mice.
How would this pill work?
Biologically speaking, it is more difficult to control the fertility of men compared to women – simply because female contraception need only prevent the release and implantation of one female egg every month. A male version would have to keep millions of sperm in check every single day – it is estimated that men produce about 1,500 sperm cells every second! So it is easy to see how much more complicated the prospect of male birth control is.
The current research is aimed at stopping the transportation of the sperm from point A to point B – rather than decreasing the production of sperm – as that would essentially cause infertility. Men hoping to go down that road would fare better from a one-time vasectomy — which has long been tried and true. Instead, researchers are focusing on a male hormone that is present in the body at the time of climax and sends a signal to the sperm saying it’s time to get a move on. By pinpointing that hormone, researchers hope that they can stop the release of sperm and thus create the first ever male-specific contraception.
Maintaining Male Sexual Health
While it will likely be several years before a male birth control pill is available to consumers, the possibility of it looks very real. The good news is, there will be no lasting side effects to men who use the birth control pill, and with a doctor’s prescription, it can be added to his current sexual health routine with ease. A routine that should already include the following: regular physicals with a doctor, a thorough daily hygiene regimen, and consistent use of barrier protection to protect the penis from sexual infections and other issues.
To amp up the hygiene routine to the next level, men should also use a daily penis health cream (health professionals recommend Man 1 Man Oil) that is enriched with targeted vitamins, nutrients and soothing emollients to help maximize penis health and function.