Men can take birth control shots to prevent pregnancy in their female partners, according to a new study published in the Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.
Researchers are still working to perfect the combination of hormonal contraceptives to reduce the risk of mild to moderate side effects, including depression and other mood disorders.
While women can choose from a number of birth control methods, men have few options to control their own fertility. Available methods for men include condoms, vasectomies and withdrawal.
Better birth control options are needed for men. In 2012, 40 percent of all pregnancies worldwide were unintended, according to the Guttmacher Institute.
[...] Researchers stopped enrolling new participants in the study in 2011 due to the rate of adverse events, particularly depression and other mood disorders, reported by the participants. The men reported side effects including injection site pain, muscle pain, increased libido and acne. Twenty men dropped out of the study due to side effects.
Despite the adverse effects, more than 75 percent of participants reported being willing to use this method of contraception at the conclusion of the trial.
Given the number and nature of the side-effects, the researchers have called for further study to reduce their effects.
Journal Reference:
Hermann M. Behre, et al, Efficacy and Safety of an Injectable Combination Hormonal Contraceptive for Men. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, October 27, 2016 DOI: 10.1210/jc.2016-2141
Where are the shots administered?
(Score: 2) by Magic Oddball on Sunday October 30 2016, @07:03AM
female birth control is known to cause depression and all kinds of other bad side effects
Not quite true. The vast majority of women that take BCP don't experience any noticeable side–effects; most potential side–effects fall into the "tiny increase in the chances of [something statistically unlikely]" category. It's just that the classic "vocal minority" issue comes into play, making it seem like BCP causes far more trouble than it really does.
except women who aren't in trusting relationships should still make sure they do birth control themselves, otherwise she's gonna get pregnant and fast.
I'd say that women having sex outside of a trusting relationship (whether it's romantic or friends-with-benefits) should be using spermicide with condoms and/or a diaphragm in order to reduce the risk of catching a nasty STD.