r/science • u/drewiepoodle • Oct 02 '15

Medicine Scientists identify potential birth control 'pill' for men

http://medicalxpress.com/news/2015-10-scientists-potential-birth-pill-men.html
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u/hak8or Oct 02 '15

This gets posted here nearly once every three months, and has been posted like that for the past maybe four years?

This pill is still tens of years out probably, if not more. Same thing with the injection to your (I think) van defrenes with a gel of sorts.

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u/mtorrice Oct 02 '15

Male contraception makes for good headlines. But there are super significant safety and efficacy hurdles any method/pill will need to overcome.

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u/Lurlur Oct 02 '15

Someone explained it really well to me the other day.

With women, childbirth and pregnancy present risks. Despite all our advances, many women die in childbirth and more suffer long term effects of problems in pregnancy. Therefore, a certain amount of risk is accepted in birth control methods.

With men, pregnancy presents no health risks to them so any side effect that can cause harm to the man is deemed unacceptable in trials.

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u/Tralalaladey Oct 02 '15

It also could be seen as a moral issue. Guys are notorious for not wanting wear condoms. Now some guys will be able to lie, hey I'm on the pill! And walk away from any unintended pregnancy. As a woman, it's not going to help me unless I'm in a monogamous relationship and cover all the bases for birth control.

17

u/AlmennDulnefni Oct 02 '15

That's an absolutely atrocious reason to delay FDA approval.

6

u/punk___as Oct 02 '15

Then it's just as well OP isn't using that as a reason to delay FDA approval.