Men, would you take it?

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/WomensHealth/birth-control-pill-men-count/story?id=13782605

Scientists could be one step closer to developing a birth control pill for men. A drug that stunts sperm production aced tests in mouse testes. And if it's proven to be safe and effective in humans, it could expand the prophylactic pool -- an exciting prospect at a time when roughly half of U.S. pregnancies are unintended.

But with the burden of pregnancy falling largely to females, some women say they wouldn't count on it alone.

"I think it depends on both the woman and the man," said Amy McCarthy, a 23-year-old web editor from Dallas. For McCarthy and her boyfriend of two years, Dave, the pill for men would be a welcome addition to the contraceptive repertoire.

"Dave is just as worried about the possibility of pregnancy as I am," McCarthy said, explaining that they already "double up" on birth control methods. "If anything, this is a really empowering development for men. Up until this point, they only had a few options to prevent getting their partner pregnant."

Such options, including condoms and spermicides, can help prevent pregnancy by stopping sperm in their tracks. But researchers at Columbia University Medical Center in New York City say the drug BMS-189453 can quickly and reversibly stop sperm production. Developed more than 10 years ago as a possible treatment for skin and inflammatory diseases, the drug's sperm-stunting potential was originally considered a toxic side effect.

"One company's toxin may be another person's contraceptive," said Debra Wolgemuth, a professor of genetics as well as obstetrics and gynecology at Columbia University Medical Center in New York City and lead author of the study published June 4 in Endocrinology, in a statement.

Sperm production ramped up again when the mice stopped taking BMS-189453, and the drug did not appear to hamper their libido -- a troublesome side effect reported with other, hormone-targeting versions of the pill for men under development. But some doctors say the idea of quashing sperm production, even temporarily, can be scary for men.

"Sperm-making is a pretty delicate thing, and people do seem to have a concept of that," said Dr. Joseph Alukal, director of male reproductive health at New York University's Langone Medical Center. "How long did it take for women to get comfortable with the reversibility of the birth control pill? I'm not sure."

Nevertheless, Alukal said he thinks some men would welcome the option of a birth control pill.

"If you look at vasectomy, I there are plenty of men in committed relationships who choose to take onus of reproductive planning on themselves," Alukal said. "I think the same sorts of people would choose to look into something like this."

But for single guys, the pill might not fly.

"In modern society, there are all kinds of legitimate questions raised about the utility of a pill like this," Alukal said. Questions like, "Do you really expect guys to take, and their female partners to trust that they've taken it?"

McCarthy wouldn't.

"If I were dating around, though, there's no way I would trust someone that I'd been on just a few dates with [to take the pill]," she said. "I think for most men it just wouldn't be a thought that crossed their mind -- they're worried about getting HIV or gonorrhea, not having a screaming baby."

...i refuse to abort all my squiggly little buddies...it's a right to life thing don'tcha know...

So, one for no. Anyone else?

My idea on this is that maybe it would work in a couple situation and that only. Though why can't the woman just be on birth control as that already exists and they even have kinds that don't require a pill.

For single people it won't work. They guys are not the ones to get pregnant so I don't think they would be taking a pill everyday "just in case" they get laid. They are not like woman. they can't get it whenever they want.

i think this will be the general response.....

and i would like to see a woman's response to that response.

no the human modern sience and chemistry is not in the -uni-verse-creation line- so l say no

mankid must find out the natural equilibre among the two dimension visible and invisible

patience grasshopper : )

Its the unexpected things in life that make it so fun. I however wouldn't just trust a pill either. I don't even trust condoms. My family seems to have really strong swimmers.

Sense I haven't had sex in 17 years I wouldn't bother.

No, I'd rather just use common sense and decency. If you need to take a pill or anything to stop you from having babies, you have bigger problems.

For one, peace of mind comes to mind. No worries about whether the woman is actually on birth control, or worrying about if the condom breaks, right?

Are you assuming that all women who take birth control pills have problems?

Not at all, just saying if you don't want to have a baby, it's not difficult to prevent it from happening, and if you can't prevent it from happening without some kind of pill or something, then you have a bigger problem than just not wanting babies. I mean for men and women.

I'm yet to meet one that didn't.

Way to generalize, guys.

I dont worry about condoms breaking. Also when not in a relationship its more difficult for a guy to find someone to sleep with than a girl. Birth control has no extra functions for guys but for girls it can relieve symptoms of "that special time" and even help clear skin. A condom is way more convenient for a guy than a pill.

It really isn't that difficult to generalize, condoms have worked well for years...Why would anyone need a shot/patch/pill/etc. to do the same thing?

Honestly, that is a red flag for me anymore...It either means; A: They are sexually active with different people, or B: They are sexually active with different people.

You make it sound like it is more difficult than that.

You're generalizing based on a few women you know, I guess?

I would say the majority of women I know (friends in real life)who are not wanting to become pregnant right now are using some form of birth control. They're certainly not all sleeping around.

In addition to that, several use it to even just regulate their period. That's fairly common when it comes to the pill.

Male birth control...





Wrap tightly around penis!



Unfortunately for the guy there will be side effects...





Like swollen testes very shortly after sex!