Hormonal patches, intrauterine devices (IUDs), NuvaRings, contraceptive sponges, cervical caps, tubal ligation and the pill. What common theme unites these elements? They are all examples of different methods of contraception. Additionally, another important factor these items share is that they are all forms of female birth control. Being some of the most common forms of contraception, this helps illustrate how women unfairly bear most of the contraceptive burden. Currently, there is a striking difference between the number of contraceptive methods available to women compared to men, as women have many different birth control options, while men have only two: condoms or vasectomies (Ahmed et al., 2024, p. 1653). Despite ongoing efforts by researchers since the 1970s to formulate a male contraceptive pill, there is still no hormonal contraceptive available for men (Dismore et al., 2016). This raises an important question, if it usually takes two people to conceive a child, why are women constantly forced to take responsibility for pregnancy prevention planning?
This blog will explore some of the arguments in favor of increased male contraceptive options, while also highlighting arguments against the development of new male contraceptives. It is important to note that this blog will use the term “male” when referring to people who produce sperm and “female” for people who produce eggs, although it is recognized that not all people who use male or female contraceptives identify with these terms.
One of the main arguments in support of increased male contraceptive options is that they would allow a more equal sharing of contraceptive responsibility between partners (Peterson, et al., 2019). Rather than forcing women to shoulder the majority of contraceptive responsibilities, male contraceptives would help relieve the burden on women, also providing another way to further support women’s contraceptive use beyond simple financial, logistical, and socioemotional means (Nguyen, 2024). The results of a recent study in the United States found that most men (about 7 in 10) shared common attitudes that decisions about when to have children should be made by both partners and that children should be a shared responsibility between partners (Nguyen, 2024). Additionally, this study found an independent association between these beliefs about shared responsibilities and men’s willingness to take male birth control in the future (Nguyen, 2024). These findings demonstrate the importance of changing narratives from contraceptive use being a woman’s responsibility to a shared task, as this could further influence men’s greater willingness to use contraceptives (Nguyen, 2024).
In addition, supporting the development of additional male contraceptives could also help reduce unplanned pregnancy rates. Introducing more male contraceptive options would allow men to have more control over preventing unintended pregnancies, beyond condom use or vasectomy (Peterson et al., 2019). Currently, rates of unplanned pregnancies worldwide are very high, with studies suggesting that nearly 44% of all pregnancies are unintended (Abbe et al., 2020). Research on women who had an unplanned pregnancy reveals that many of them did not use contraception or used unreliable methods such as withdrawal (Abbe et al., 2020). One of the prominent reasons why women reported a lack of reliable contraceptive use was due to associated side effects and health concerns (Abbe et al., 2020). In addition, when women stop using contraceptives, this increases the risk of pregnancy, especially due to the lack of male contraceptives. Recent studies suggest that new male contraceptive options could have a positive impact on unintended pregnancies, having the potential to reduce rates in the United States by 3.5-5% and over 30% in other developing regions of the world (Abbe et al., 2020).
On the other hand, one concern with the increased male contraceptive options is their potential side effects. Although side effects are an important factor in the development of new contraceptives, it is important to remember that some of the first contraceptives available for women had associated side effects and risks that outweighed the overall benefits of the contraceptive (Nguyen, 2024). This shows a double standard whereby women are expected to tolerate side effects associated with contraceptives, but many trials of new male contraceptives are quickly stopped in the presence of side effects. For example, a study examining the effectiveness of an injectable hormonal contraceptive for men, which showed promising sperm-suppressing results in its preliminary trials, was eventually halted due to concerns about potential side effects, including acne, increased libido, mood disorders and pain at the sight of contraception. 2024). The continued discontinuation of research in the presence of side effects further demonstrates how society has unfairly normalized birth control-related side effects for women (Donegan, 2019). Additionally, another study that assessed men’s willingness to use various forms of new male birth control found that men had a very low expected willingness to tolerate potential side effects (Martins & Boraas, 2023). Specifically, less than 10% of the men in the study said they would be willing to tolerate side effects, such as acne, mood swings, fatigue, headaches, weight gain of 10 to 20 pounds, and/or increased/decreased libido, that are present in various forms of hormonal female control (Martins & Boraas, 2023).
Another argument against the development of new male contraceptives concerns their predicted low uptake. One of the main reasons for the lack of funding and resources available for male contraceptive research and development is due to the belief that men would not use them (Nguyen, 2024). Global findings suggest that existing male contraceptives, which include condoms and vasectomies, account for only about 8.9% of contraceptive use (Peterson et al., 2019). Additionally, vasectomies are less frequently chosen as a primary form of contraception compared to other forms of female sterilization methods (Nguyen, 2024). A study from 2008 found that only 6% of couples in the United States who used contraception relied on vasectomies, while 17% of couples relied on tubal ligation or other forms of female sterilization (Nguyen, 2024). Although vasectomy procedures are objectively safer and simpler than female sterilization methods, there is still a significant difference in their rate of use (Nguyen, 2024). Furthermore, this shows concern that even if additional forms of male contraceptives are developed, men may not choose to use them.
Overall, the debate surrounding the development of additional male contraceptive options is ongoing. While it is valid to raise concerns about the potential risks of new male contraceptives, it is also important to actively address misinformed assumptions about side effects and biases about who bears the burden of contraception and its side effects (Peterson et al., 2019). This can be achieved through the implementation of awareness programs aimed at educating men about the safety of male birth control and its minimal side effects (Ahmed et al., 2024). In order to increase men’s interest and willingness to use future male birth control, education will be a key factor. By promoting greater awareness of the new male contraceptives among men and exposing men to women’s experiences and challenges with contraception, we can begin to foster a society that shares contraceptive responsibilities more equally.
Jordan Ross (her), fourth year psychology.
References
Abbe, CR, Page, ST, & Thirumalai, A. (2020). Male contraception. The Yale Journal of Biology & Medicine93(4), 603–613.
Ahmed, H., Memon, A., Hoda, F., & Alvares, J. (2024). The Male Contraceptive Pill – A New Approach to Family Planning and Population Control. The International Journal of Health Planning and Management39(5), 1652–1657.
Dismore, L., Van Wersch, A., & Swainston, K. (2016). Social constructions of the male contraceptive pill: When will we break the vicious cycle? Journal of Health Psychology21(5), 788–797.
Donegan, M. (2019, June 6). It’s time for men to step up and share the responsibility for birth control. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/jun/05/male-birth-control-step-up-responsibility
Martins, SL, & Boraas, CM (2023). Willingness to use innovative reversible methods of male birth control: a community-based survey of cisgender men in the United States. Contraception and Reproductive Medicine8(1), 41–41. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40834-023-00242-y
Nguyen, BT (2024). Male acceptance of contraceptives versus male acceptance of contraceptive responsibility. Andrology (Oxford)12(7), 1585–1589.
Peterson, LM, Campbell, MAT, & Laky, ZE (2019). The next frontier for men’s contraceptive choice: College men’s willingness to take male hormonal contraception. Psychology of Men & Masculinity20(2), 226–237.
