In the sexually active population, it is somehow implied that a woman should take care of contraception. For men, and even for a certain number of women, condoms are not a favourite and they would rather make love without it. However, the fear of unintended pregnancy is an insurmountable obstacle for some couples – if they do not use a condom.

In another part of sexually active people, a condom is the last line of defence against STDs and is most often used in cases of overnight sex. However, there is more and more talk about contraceptives that could be used by men, without a condom.

What do the research shows?

One-third of sexually active men state that they would consider taking hormonal contraceptives, such as a pill or, perhaps, an implant. A similar number of women are currently using something similar.

An astonishing fact is that 80% of sexually active people state that contraception should be a shared responsibility. Is that so in reality – we doubt it. However, the research data state that 77 per cent of the sexually active men aged 18 to 44 surveyed show interest in trying male contraception and that it is not a condom or vasectomy.

Consequently, will the acceptance of the public with the relaxation of strict divisions into gender roles, lead to the male pill becoming a reality?

Which contraception is the most widespread in the world?

Just over a third of couples in their fertile years around the world do not use anything from contraception. But when they use it, contraceptives intended for women are far more common, not to mention the only choice.

Nearly a fifth of married people or women in a serious relationship relies on sterilization, 14 per cent on a spiral, nine per cent on a pill and five per cent on hormone therapy.

Contraceptives for men are almost insignificant and can be reduced almost to a statistical error: only eight per cent of men rely on condoms and a negligible two per cent on vasectomy.

Has that always been the case?

Before the pill appeared, men participated in birth control by possibly using condoms. When the female pill began to be mass-produced in the early 1960s, women were able to control fertility for the first time without the participation or knowledge of a sexual partner. So, if the woman did not want to get pregnant or be afraid of it, she would use the contraceptive pill on the recommendation of her gynaecologist. Her partner could do it but he didn’t have to know.

Today, the pill is used by more than 100 million women, which is the most widespread form of contraception in Europe, Australia and New Zealand. It is the second most popular method of birth control in Africa, Latin America and North America, and the third in Asia.

Over the decades, the pill has freed many women, allowing them to postpone or prevent motherhood for other reasons, such as higher education or employment. That is why it is often perceived as a major turning point in the fight for women’s rights and one of the most significant inventions of the 20th century.

But as society moves more and more towards gender equality, it is astonishing that women remain the ones who have to take on the emotional, social, financial and temporal burden of contraception, not to mention its side effects.

What about the pill for men?

It took only a decade for the invention to make the women’s pill commercially available. What, then, about the pill for men? Let us remind you, it was first tested in the seventies of the last century.

Some scientists claim that the scientific aspect of the development of male contraceptive pills is more complicated than the development of female ones. The male pill works by ceasing the production of sperm, but the level of hormones necessary to achieve that can cause side effects.

What’s in the game?

Both social and economic factors are at play. The field of reproductive science and medicine, mainly focused on the female body, neglecting the male. For example, almost everyone knows what a gynaecologist does, and yet very few have heard of an andrologist, a doctor who specializes in the male reproductive system.

The research of the male pill not only started decades after the female pill but was also hampered by the lack of funds. This is partly because pharmaceutical companies, regulators, and men themselves seem to be much less willing to accept potential side effects.

How does the pill work for men?

The contraceptive pill does not reduce sexual desire in men. That is a fact that should be mentioned in the first place because that is exactly what men are afraid of. Don’t be fooled!

The first male contraceptive pill was recently tested, and then it was shown that in most tested men, it causes depression, reduces libido, increases acne, muscle pain and leads to frequent mood swings. The results are not encouraging. However, repeated tests showed different results, this time successful. It is not stated whether the pharmacists changed the prescription or something else is a topic for reflection.

What are the conclusions?

The contraceptive pill does not reduce the sexual desire of men, and the prescribed dose is one pill a day. The male pill works the same as the female, which means that it combines the activity of androgens – male hormones, testosterone and progestins. The results showed that men who used the pill developed smaller amounts of testosterone, but only if the pill was consumed with food.

It should be noted that men gain weight due to the effect of the contraceptive pill, and a reduced level of good cholesterol has been noticed. Nevertheless, experts state that the reaction of men is positive and that they would gladly take the pill every day, as a reversible contraceptive, and not injections with a long-lasting effect. So, they want to control their fertility, so if one day they decide to become fathers, they really can.

Are men ready for the anti-baby pill?

Despite encouraging news and 50 years of research, there is still no version of contraceptive pills for men that would be freely sold in pharmacies.

The lack of funds and the presumed disinterest of men means that such a pill has not been produced for mass use so far. Women are however typically expected to take responsibility if they do not want to get pregnant.

However, research shows that many men would accept the pill if it were available. Although certain symptoms are considered acceptable with female pills, they are often perceived as unacceptable for male birth control pills. What is the reason for that? Scientists say that because the control group are healthy young men. Is there any logic here?

In addition, the frequent side effects of the female pill such as fattening, mood swings and decreased desire for sex are often perceived as an attack on masculinity. What for the average, sexually active man, it is.

The study of the “clean sheets” pill, a contraceptive for men that enables orgasm without sperm, was stopped for similar reasons. Namely, ejaculation is perceived as an important component of male sexuality.

The next question that arises would be – do women trust men when it comes to contraception? Does he use pills or not?

Women’s work?

Since contraception is mostly perceived as a woman’s job, it is instantly assumed that men would not use contraception. On the other hand, by changing gender roles, men are now much more willing to share all responsibilities, including parental ones. This shift in balance may also apply to contraception, as research shows that younger people are more likely to experience it as a shared responsibility.

The role of education and social status

Certain groups of men, especially those who are more educated, well-off, or for whom traditional gender roles are less important, are more likely to support or even eagerly await the arrival of male contraception. They believe that in that case, there will be no possibility for the girl to “catch them on the baby.”

Although welcome, the mass availability of the male pill will not guarantee its use, which is a problem observed with vasectomy, in the sterilization of men. Although it has existed for almost two centuries, female sterilization is 10 times more common around the world, even though it is less efficient, more expensive and more susceptible to complications.

What is the future?

Still uncertain. The fact is that the male contraceptive pill already exists, but it is almost impossible to find it anywhere in the world. No one uses it, it is not approved or commercialized. How it will be in the future depends on several factors – starting with home education, the education system, specific male-female relations, but also with the change of social status. Will the macho style survive in the future? These are all questions on which it directly depends whether humanity will accept the “male” pill or not. It is up to the pharmaceutical industry to perfect it, make it safe and secure.

How long will it take until then? Let’s be realistic, probably for decades. Until then, men can reliably rely only on a condom, or in extreme cases on surgery and permanent sterilization – vasectomy. If we are talking about absolutely safe male contraception. The option is for women to continue to protect and control their fertility in established ways.