By: SHA Intern Tula Pitcher

Female birth control has been around for ages, with the earliest recordings emerging in 1850 BC, in ancient Mesopotamia. Although technology has advanced throughout the centuries to produce safer and more reliable contraception for women, it seems to have reached a glass ceiling.

Yes, birth control has almost become a universal expectation. Let me rephrase that: Birth control has become a universal expectation in Western cultures - let us not forget the multitude of progress we have yet to make in reproductive justice across the globe. As of now, you hear “birth control” and you think: fertile, sexually promiscuous female. When you think of “condom,” you think: responsible young man. The problem remains exclusively a problem for women, but what about men? I think it’s about time that we refocus the discussion of contraception to become and a genderless concept.

Discourse is equally favorable to men in the conversation around unplanned pregnancies, which are often the result of forgotten or misused contraception. The stigma around unplanned pregnancies is highly negative and highly gendered. Unplanned pregnancies are often blamed on the females, assuming the women were being irresponsible.

The reality of the matter in both cases is that the responsibility of contraception, before and after coital sex, is left up to the female. And even more visible in an age of hookup culture, is that women are expected, without question, to be on some kind of hormonal intervention that’s supposed to protect both parties, male and female, from getting into “trouble.” Women have birth control pills, arm implants, shots, and multiple versions of IUDs. Patriarchy has etched into the history of uteri that they are either demanded to give birth to unwanted babies or they are required to host an anonymous set of hormones with a multitude of side effects. At the same time, women are consistently discredited for being too emotional while PMSing.

And what do men have? They have flimsy pieces of plastic that are 98% effective, and often coerced and avoided into not being used. Additionally, if condoms are incorrectly worn, the chance of an unwanted pregnancy rises to nearly 25%. Actually, condoms aren’t the only option for men, although it’s the only widespread form of birth control known to be available. Vasectomies are also a reliable and reversible option!

Seriously though, there are multiple ongoing trials for men’s birth control that have seen successful results since 2012. According to WebMD, these trials include a hormone-based gel, injectable hormones, and a pill. However, these trials are still pending, and commercial use may not be possible until 2029.

There is certainly progress being made. But for me to truly believe in reproductive equality, I’m going to need to see the same kind of urgency we saw for female contraception. If female birth control began in 1850 B.C., male contraception has about 4,000 years of catching up to do.

References:

https://www.webmd.com/sex/birth-control/male-contraceptives

https://www.pandiahealth.com/resources/birth-control-throughout-history/

https://www.webmd.com/sex/birth-control/male-birth-control-contraceptives-pill

https://utswmed.org/medblog/pill-guys-male-birth-control-option-passes-safety-tests/