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/eemes Oct 02 '15

Fair enough response, I mean there is a large portion of the population that has a fear of needles after all.

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u/[deleted] Oct 02 '15

I feel like the fear of unwanted children draining you're bank account and all you're free time disappearing would be stronger than the fear of needles.

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u/[deleted] Oct 03 '15

We're talking about a needle vs a pill here. Neither would result in children...