Is this the moment that us ladies have been waiting for? It surely has been a long time coming, but at last, a male contraceptive has successfully completed clinical trials and could be available to the public as early as 2020.
This new contraception will be injectable and is said to be 97% effective. This is big news, but what does it mean for us?
What Is It?
It’s a shot that is made up of a compound called Styrene Maleic Anhydride.
How Does it Work?
The compound will be injected into the vas deferens, which is the duct that carries sperm from the testicles to the urethra. This will effectively block sperm from leaving the testicles. This could be the first non-surgical alternative to vasectomy.
“Non-surgical procedures are always preferred over surgical procedures because they will be safer and less invasive,” said Dr. Anup Kumar, head of urology and renal transplant department, Safdarjung Hospital. “More men are likely to opt for it.”
What’s the Catch?
The drug was developed in India, where the clinical trials also took place, and because of this the manufacture, sale, and distribution of new medical innovation in India requires approval from the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI). This is expected to take about six to seven months.
In addition to the approval timeline, this injection is designed to last approximately 13 years, after which the polymer solution loses its potency. Depending on how you look at it, this is either a bonus or a bust.
“It’s the first in the world from India so we have to be extra careful about approval. We are looking at all aspects, especially the good manufacturing practice (GMP) certification that won’t raise any questions about its quality,” said V.G. Somani, the drug controller general of India.
India is currently at the forefront of male contraception research, but the U.S. is not far behind as researchers have been working on a similar contraceptive, called Vasalgel, but it’s still under development.
In all, the future looks bright for male contraception. Share this with the man in your life!
Jasmine Danielle is the Associate Editor of BlackDoctor.org. She received her BFA in Dance Education & Performance from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and has since done work as a certified fitness & wellness educator, blogger, dancer, and designer.
Birth Control and The Modern Woman
Today’s modern woman is an entrepreneur, a career woman, single, married, and may or may not have children. Today’s modern woman has choices and she makes decisions based on how it will affect her overall well-being. Today’s modern woman is able to make an independent choice about their reproductive health.
The Facts
- More than 99% of women aged 15-44 have used at least one method of contraception.
- Sixty-two percent of women of reproductive age are currently using birth control.
- The proportion of women at risk who are not using any contraception methods is among those aged 15-19 years old.
- The pill has been one of the most commonly used methods of contraception.
- Sixty-seven percent of women who use contraception usually use nonpermanent hormonal methods.
What Method is Right for You
There are many methods of birth control currently on the market. There are hormonal and non-hormonal options, there are pills, injections, patches, and rings. It’s important to know andunderstand each method and its side effects so you can choose the method that works best for your body and lifestyle.
When consulting with your physician or researching, its beneficial for you to understand how effective the method is, the convenience of the method, how long it lasts, the cost, and the risks and side effects. Every method is different and every woman will have a different experience.
According to Planned Parenthood, the IUD, implant, and sterilization methods are the most effective at preventing pregnancy.
Condoms
Condoms are a thin, stretchy, rubber-like pouch that is worn on the penis and is the only birth control method that aids in preventing sexually transmitted infections. Condoms are 85% effective.
IUD (intrauterine device)
IUD is a small t-shaped device that has either copper or hormones and is put in the uterus by a doctor or nurse. The IUD prevents pregnancy by changing the way sperm moves so it doesn’t get to an egg. The IUD is known to beone of the most effective methods of birth control and can work for up to 3-12 years depending on which one you get. The non-hormonal method may cause heavier bleeding and longer periods, while the hormonal method may have irregular bleeding or no bleeding at all.
The Implant
The implant is among one of the other most effective birth control methods. The implant is the size of a matchstick-size plastic rod that is placed in the upper arm. The implant works mostly by preventing ovulation. It lasts up to 4 years. You may experience irregular bleeding and gain weight.
Depo-Provera (The Shot)
The shot is given every 3 months and contains the hormone progestin and works by preventing ovulation. 6 out of 100 women may get pregnant while using the shot. You may experience weight gain, irregular periods and bleeding, and could take 6-10 months to get pregnant once off the shot.
The Pill
The pill prevents ovulation and makes the cervical mucus thicker to prevent the sperm from getting into the egg. You may experience nausea, headaches, and sore breasts. You have to remember to take the pill daily, and you could possibly experience rare, but serious problems like heart attack, stroke, blood clots, or high blood pressure.
The Ring
The ring releases hormones and is placed in the vagina. It has to be replaced each month; it too works by preventing ovulation. The ring is less effective than the implant and IUD with 9 out of 100 people becoming pregnant while using it. You may experience the same side effects as the pill.
The Withdrawal
The withdrawal method know to most as the “pulling out” method is not as effective as the above-mentioned methods of birth control; however, many women choose not to take birth control because they don’t want to experience the side effects of other methods. 27 out of 100 women will get pregnant using the withdrawal method.
Ultimately, deciding which method to use is your choice. Speaking with a few modern women, I found that those that used birth control used IUD for its effectiveness, not having to remember to use it every day, feeling protected against unwanted pregnancy, and going months without a period.
Elissa Mirsky, known to most as Elle, is a published author and former editor-in-chief of Bold Magazine. She believes food shouldn’t be boring and every meal should be fashionably edible. Follow her on Instagram @mylifebeingelle where she is documenting her journey to eat well, live life, and love self.