Men need more than vasectomies as contraceptive options
Vasectomies are more popular than ever, especially among younger generations, which means men are going to fairly extreme lengths to ensure they’re not able to get people pregnant. In Northern Ireland, GPs are even going to start doing vasectomies due to the unprecedented demand and spiralling waiting lists.
I’m 27 and I don’t want children – I am almost certain of this. While I’ve often considered having a vasectomy, I’m not convinced it is the right option for me right now. I’m not fazed by the idea of a surgical procedure, but needing local anaesthetic so medics can snip your tubes (in a procedure which is sometimes irreversible) feels pretty extreme as the only option to prevent a woman becoming pregnant aside from a condom.
It’s why I am increasingly frustrated that there is no injection or oral contraception available for men. Of course, when having sex with multiple partners, condoms should still be used, as they help to prevent STIs in a way the pill wouldn’t, but that’s a different conversation – plus, using them alone doesn’t quell my anxiety about making someone pregnant.
From the reporting
I’ve done around the subject, the reason a male pill is taking so long is in part because medical reasoning is so close-minded.
Women can be prescribed the pill for health reasons, so the benefits can outweigh the risks. But a pill for men with healthy sperm would have to be risk-free, as there is no other benefit to taking it. The logic is that a new contraceptive would have to present less physical risk to a person than it not being available. A hormonal injection was stopped in the trial phase because of concerns that the side effects would be unacceptable for men. These included acne, headaches, fatigue and changes in sex drive. None is ideal, sure, but there is virtually no consideration of the burden for women who take contraception and have dealt with these side effects for decades.
If I could feel more confident that I wouldn’t make someone pregnant, I would probably have a better sex life: less anxiety and stress, a deeper connection with people I’m having sex with because the mood isn’t altered by my worries.
The lack of public education around this is also a problem. It’s probably a harder sell to men to get them to take something which will have side effects. I think it’s worthwhile, but it’s easy to see why some wouldn’t
But I do think we should be in charge of the effects of our sperm, and be able to decide on whether potential side effects of medication are worth it or not. For many of us they might outweigh mental, financial and emotional risk. Given the “sex recession” young people are regularly told we are experiencing, they might just mean we’re more likely to have sex too.