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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, Insightful) by wisnoskij on Saturday October 29 2016, @02:11PM
I have never understood why these chemical solutions are even legal. AIDs is on the raise again, if you are not trying to get pregnant, you really need to use a condom or be celibate. And the demographics are changing, women are now not just going to Paris and Greece, looking for a fling with an exotic sexually aggressive man, they are going to Kenya.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday October 29 2016, @05:24PM
You had good points up until your changing demographics bit. Whether its a girl or a guy STDs still get around. Did you break off a relationship over a vacation to Kenya??
(Score: 1, Touché) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday October 29 2016, @07:10PM
Because there's totally no such thing as STD testing or other forms of birth control, and everybody knows that wearing a condom feels 100% exactly like sex without one for both people involved.
(Score: 2) by pendorbound on Monday October 31 2016, @04:19PM
Because sometimes barriers fail and the odds of having a pregnancy are significantly higher than the odds of transmitting STI's. Belt + suspenders. Call it "Plan A-point-five..."
Because sometimes barriers are made to fail. She wants a kid, he doesn't, and oops where did that little pinhole in the condom come from / where did all those birth control pills go? Now he has an option he knows can't be tampered with.
Because even fluid bonded partners might not want to have kids right now. She could be on the pill, but maybe she hates the side effects and maybe the side effects for him are less severe. The only male option would require surgical reversal which is by no means certain to succeed and quite expensive.
Because making your own health decisions and choosing what level of risk you're willing to accept is still a thing.