Developments in a new contraceptive injection for men are engendering mixed opinions on the University of Wisconsin campus as faculty and students envision a “male pill.”
Clinical trials with the drug, a combination of an implant and an injection, have been conducted on 350 men in 14 different places in Europe. German drug maker Schering AG and Dutch firm Organon announced the trials recently, but Schering said the drug could be on the market in five to seven years.
UW student Melissa Lawrence sees this new form of contraception as another option for couples and a possible change for the traditional view that women must be responsible for taking birth control.
“A lot of guys push their girlfriends to be on the pill, but this could really turn things around,” Lawrence said.
In Schering’s trials, the implant form of progestogen etonogestrel reduced the amount of sperm but testosterone undecanoate kept the testosterone levels high enough. Without an adequate level of testosterone, a male may experience a loss of libido, mood swings or loss of muscle strength.
According to Australian researchers, the trials have lessened sperm production in 55 couples that used these two hormones.
Anthony Auger, a UW assistant professor of psychology, believes developments toward a male pill should be approached with caution.
“Little attention is given to examining the influences of these drugs on brain physiology and behavior. Steroid hormones not only influence sperm production, but they also influence brain development, function and behavior,” Auger said.
Auger worries hormone exposure could influence a young, developing brain. He believes the idea of male birth control could be a good thing, but for now there are better ways to control pregnancy, such as the use of a condom.
UW student Andy Hong is also concerned about changing hormone levels in males. Hong says he would not take the contraceptive until there is more research out there about the negative effects it can have on the body.
“I think if they put this out there, it’s good because people have options,” Hong said. “But it still wouldn’t prevent problems such as STDs, which are more of a concern for college students.”
Past survey evidence has shown most males would rather not take a hormonal contraceptive. Hong said he thinks more males would be interested if it were in pill form rather than an injection.
According to the National Center for Health Statistics, in 1995 the pill was the leading contraceptive method among women under the age of 30. The male condom followed closely as another popular method of contraception.
However, Lawrence hopes these statistics change as developments continue. She believes women should ask their partners to use hormonal contraception if they cannot take the pill themselves.
“Men are half responsible for creating a baby; therefore, they should be half responsible for preventing conception if they cannot handle a baby in their lives right now,” Lawrence said.
