The Male Pill Is Coming
Posted by Mr. Thoughtful on April 14, 2008
No, I don’t mean Viagra. I mean a contraceptive pill for men.
http://www.washingtontimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080326/NATION/657226903/1002
How common do you think taking this pill will be? Guys, would you take it? One argument in favor of taking it is to avoid the risk and expense of paternity. Child support based even on a fairly modest income would add up to over $200,000 over 18 years.
Women, would you insist that your boyfriends/husbands (or both) take it if you’re now using female contraceptive pills?
Guys, if your girlfriend/wife is not taking the pill and you have to wear condoms, would this be preferable to wearing the raincoat? (note to women: sex isn’t nearly as enjoyable when you’re wearing one).
How would your decision be changed if you weren’t in a monogamous relationship?
April 15, 2008 at 10:30 am
I’d take it and I’d expect my partner to stay on the pill. Unprotected sex with double the ‘protection’? Sounds great to me, but I do think it will cause an increase in the incidences of sexually transmitted diseases. That’s the one downfall I can see with it. What would you do, Mr Thoughtful?
April 15, 2008 at 2:29 pm
Doctor007,
I would take the pill, unless one of the side effects was blindness or impotence. And I’m talking about a fairly high risk of either.
This would give you almost complete insurance against an unwanted pregnancy, with its near-catastrophic financial consequences. At least it would if you remembered to take it every day (and with the severe disincentive to forgetting, I think I’d paste post-it notes on my bathroom mirror, my alarm clock, my car rear-view mirror, the refrigerator door, etc. - “Did you remember to take your pill today?”).
You raise a good point about the risk of STDs though. This pill would remove one of the risks of sex, but not all of them. The condom would still be necessary unless you were in a long term relationship with someone who has tested safe.
April 15, 2008 at 8:08 pm
I’d take it if I knew for sure there would be no side effects. The problem is, there IS no way to know for sure if there are no side effects for at least 3-5 years. By then, I hope I’m already monogamous with SOMEONE.
And, since I’m also really scared of STDs, I’d be wearing a condom anyway. So what’s the point of taking a pill?
April 15, 2008 at 11:57 pm
Mr Practical, there’s no drug that comes without side-effects - said pill will have some, but maybe they’re not so bad. If they were, you’re right - it wouldn’t be worth taking. Personally, I’d still use it. Being in the medical field I get tested for communicable diseases regularly anyway.
Mr Thoughtful - I like the post-it idea! Or you could put a daily reminder on the pda or something.
April 18, 2008 at 1:00 pm
There is one phrase I know I never want to hear from a man before sex.
“Relax honey, I’m on the pill”