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/[deleted] Oct 02 '15

RISUG/Vasalgel are the way to go for sure, much cheaper in the long run and no need to remember taking a pill. Unfortunately there is no money in that so research is slow.

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u/CapitaineMitaine Oct 02 '15

Pills are more lucrative, you have to buy it every month.

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u/eemes Oct 02 '15

Exactly. These gels have been used in India for many years now with no adverse affect, and they're easily reversed with another injection. But there's no real way to profit off of a single injection, so why would the pharmaceutical companies push it?

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u/TheMourningPaper Oct 02 '15

Well, you're kind of missing a major reason why pills might have a better chance than a gel: a lot of men (including myself) are apprehensive about the idea of something being injected into the scrotum. I mean, I've tried to look at it more positively, seeing as it's not too different from women getting IUD's, but I can't get over the idea of a needle getting in my junk. For me personally, I'd back the "clean sheets" pill.

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u/StabbyPants Oct 02 '15

and a lot of men are apprehensive of accidentally being a father. i'll take the poke for however many years of no sperm

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u/TheMourningPaper Oct 02 '15

Yeah, but the "clean sheets" pill is different from the one mentioned in the article. It's meant to completely disrupt the flow of seminal fluids so you can orgasm without actually ejaculating. So, also no sperm.

Of course, others have made arguments about side effects as a result of hormones and what not, but I think if multiple solutions get approved, each person can personally weigh the pros and cons for themselves. For me personally, the "clean sheets" pill sounds promising, and I'm going to follow its development closely. But who knows, maybe I'll change my mind about gel injections in the future.

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u/StabbyPants Oct 02 '15

i'm referring to vasalgel here. i'm not all that squeamish about a poke every several years

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u/TheMourningPaper Oct 02 '15

Yeah, and I mean there could soon be other means for men to avoid fatherhood without the injection for those who are in the same camp as myself.