Background ¦ Your reaction

The Background:

Contraception is often regarded as a female responsibility, but with the male pill successfully emerging from scientific trials, all this could change.

A pill/patch combination method of contraception for men has been developed by three UK researchers.

Morton Hair, Kay Kitteridge and Fred Wu carried out trials on 23 men, who took a progesterone hormone pill, while wearing a body patch containing the sex hormone testosterone.

The volunteers were divided into three different groups, receiving low, medium and high levels of the progesterone pill.

Most of the men in the high and medium groups showed no active sperm after three months.

When they stopped taking the pill their sperm counts gradually returned to normal.

The method has still to be perfected, but Dr Wu believes that this work will lead to a more acceptable method of male contraception.

But given the opportunity, will men actually take the pill? Or more to the point, will women trust them to?

Background ¦ Your reaction

Your Reaction:

Sure, men will take the pill. Just like we remember to drop the toilet seat, pick up our socks, etc. Are you kidding?
Scott, USA

I think it's great that men can now be more responsible in terms of birth control. While women have many options (the pill, etc.), men have previously only had two choices: abstinence or condoms. With the advent of a male birth control pill/patch, men will have even more responsibility. The question of whether or not a man will actually takes this new pill is something else all together. The same old questions come up as when dealing with female birth control: should she take it, will she take it, etc.
In the end, it all comes down to whether then man (and woman) want children. One problem that I can see is the man not taking it deliberately (as women have done) because they want children and don't tell their partner. Other than that problem, I think this new pill is a great stride in medical technology.
Emily Barss, USA

Why won't women trust men to take the pill? If someone is that untrustworthy, why sleep with him?
Seb, UK

As a woman working at a family planning agency in the U.S. I can foresee many difficulties. The thought is a noble one but as with most other things the realities are certain to be drastically different. Many young women have difficulty remembering to take a pill daily even with the danger of becoming pregnant looming over their heads. What should cause people to believe that apart from a few, who are also apt to be the type already taking a great deal of responsibility for their actions by using condoms or a more permanent form of birth control, these men will have the same incentive to take the pill on a daily basis and remember to change the patch as needed. Also let us not overlook the masses of adolescent males let loose with a new line, "Trust me I'm on the pill." Many of these guys aren't ready to take responsibility for changing their clothes on a regular basis without a gentle (or not so gentle) prod from an external force. In the hands of the right and well motivated person this is a wonderful option but I would not soon plan to rely on this as the primary form of birth control for most people.
Jessica C, USA

Many women will not take the pill because of serious side effects after so called clinical trials. So what side effects will men have to put up with?
Mark, Belgium

It's not a good idea for either men or women engaging in casual encounters to rely on their partner's assurance that they're taking a contraceptive pill. For couples in stable relationships, a pill for men would function just as well as the female contraceptive pill. All these assertions about women being more responsible than men, or vice versa, are rubbish. It is true that men and women are accustomed to assuming different degrees of responsibility in different areas of life, but that is simply a matter of habit.
Lola, UK

Some men might take it. But in the end it will always be the woman that will have the result. I found out men are mainly not taking responsibility. It is not in their nature.
Desiree McCourt, Germany

If I were a woman, I would rather trust myself with the pill than my partner. Secondly, the most responsible method of birth control is condom usage. It doesn't assign a certain sex the responsibility of prevention.
Mahyar Entezari, USA

I think that eventually men will take the pill when they begin to become more educated about how they are being used by women who want to raise children on their own. So many women are using men this way now and the courts appear to support their efforts to ensure that the children have no further contact with their fathers. Many fathers find this attitude incredibly painful and wouldn't have had the children ion the first place if they could have foreseen the potential consequences of enforced separation.
Cully, UK

Why not? Couples are always looking to make childhood be prevented until later times. By men taking the pill and women a couple may feel even more secure and enjoy the intimacy only felt by married couples. Men are responsible just as women are but you also get those who aren't and this counts for both sexes.
Nate, Hong Kong

Of course, some relationships will benefit from this development. Also there ARE some relationships where the man is more reliable memory wise than the woman. It is a good option to have available but, as with all of the other methods of contraception, the appropriateness of this method depends upon many things and what is right for one person or or couple is not right for another. An injectible form could certainly be usefull for use in the third world to reduce the increased birthrates.
Mark Gregory, Hong Kong

Why everybody is so sceptical about guys taking resposibility? Provided that this method does not have substantial side effects and the effectiveness is demonstrated, I don't see any reason why a man would not use it.
Gabor Veres, USA

Yeah why not, if it is proved to be more successful than the female pill. When it comes to fatherhood, it is all the more necessary for a man to be very much in control of being able to take the decision of when to become a father, rather than leave it on the woman and blame her later if the pills did not work.
Prasad Holagunda, India

If women could be subjected to contraceptive methods, why shouldn't men be not? In this age where technology is at its zenith and when talk about of equal rights for both the sexes, then I think we should take on these contraceptive pills.
Dinesh Kongot, Oman

It's obvious that most men will NOT take this pill. Why can't the Doctors involved in this project see this? As Doctors you would have thought, that all that time spent studying at medical school, they would know about the psychological differences between men and women. Women are generally more judicious than men in choosing their sexual partners. Evolution has programmed men to fertilise as many ova as possible; even if that means sex with different partners. It's not that men as a whole are irresponsible about sex, it's just that nature has deemed that women bear the ultimate responibility by going through pregnancy and raising children. These three Doctors have wasted valuble research time and money - probably at the tax payers expense. If a man does not wish to father any children, he would most likely choose vasectomy, condom or abstention.
Vince Williams, UK

Yes, some men will take the pill, but as men don't get pregnant there will be no repeat of the revolution created by the advent of the pill for women. Would I take the pill? NO WAY. It will take several generations until the true effects of more chemical disturbances in the body will become apparant. In the meantime as a still single male I will not do anything to disrupt my own sperm count. It has always amazed me that so many women do take the pill, considering the often times considerable changes that occur as a result. The one true benefit as I see it is that it may prevent a few more women from treating abortion as a method of contraception.
Michael Staley, Hong Kong

Men are just not responsible enough to take the pill.
Zahida Parveen, UK

Responsible men will take the pill. Women will hate this because they will no longer be in control which is what they like. In this country many men are trapped into staying with women who deliberately become pregnant by coming of the pill without telling their partners. Because of the financial implications and the Child Support Agency, the man has no other choice than to stay with his partner and child, having to accept a situation with which he is not happy. With the intoduction of a male pill the man is now in control again and can take responsibility for his own actions. Women will not like this at all.
John Elliott, UK

Its a better option than 'the snip'. My girlfriend has difficulty with the pill and has used every one that is available, all of which cause medical problems. We have talked about me having 'the snip' so that she doesnt have to suffer through taking the pill. The male pill is a far more preferable option and I would take it, daily if necessary.
Robin Bacon, UK

Whereas the the female contraceptive tricks the female body into believing it is a different natural state, one of being fertilised so that the reproductive cycle stops, the male contraceptive chemically induces an unnatural state and could well be harmful. And as more than 70% of all drugs that are consumed are discharged in to the water table and at present there are no ways to remove this contamination, I believe it is not a good idea.
Neil Smith, UK

Do men always trust a woman who says she's on the pill? You can only truly believe someone you're in a serious relationship with. I'd take the pill, but I'd use a condom for casual sex - unwanted pregnancies aren't the only concern here.
N Telford, UK

Men will only take the pill if they are in a stable relationship, where they will have to pay for the baby when it comes. I would consider taking it.
John Kirk, UK

This has nothing to do with men being 'unreliable', a pathetic argument which reduces feminists to the very forms of sexism they are trying to suppress. However, the male pill will never catch on for two main reasons: Firstly, as unfair as it may be, it is the WOMAN who gets pregnant. Equal responsibility is very well but she would have to REALLY trust her partner. Secondly, although it may sound comical, a man's ability to produce active sperm is often subconciously integral to his sense of pride and identity. The majority of men, perhaps foolishly, would not want to take chemicals that mess around with that.
Prof. Andy Curran, France

As a parent I welcome the male pill. My wife wants more children and I don't. Now I don't trust her to take the pill as she told her friend that if she wanted a child she would just have one and there would be nothing I could do about it. We both hate condoms and my wife doesn't enjoy sex with condoms, so I can only control my destiny with the male pill. I have even asked my GP about it, but they are not available yet.
Peter Hunt, UK

I think it is time that we took our share of the precautions. The only worry I have is long term side effects and the fact that there would still be a need for a physical safeguard against STDs.
Terry Eastham, UK

Men seem to be scared about the health implications, but women have had to deal with this for years in relation to the female pill (not to mention the health problems that can be related to pregnancy and childbirth). Creating a wanted and planned child involves both parties and both parties should be responsible and share the risks of preventing an unwanted child. I would hope that I could trust my long term partner to be responsible for contraception - but I know at the back of my mind I would always be worrying.
Vickie Stevenson, UK

I think everyone is overlooking the fact that it is not just the pill that the men will have to take but to also apply 2 testosterone patches as well! Also there has been no mention of whether like the female pill it will be free or will they charge the men for it? On a final note I think that men will be more responsible should they decide to take the pill and apply the patches, since they would not want an'unplanned pregnancy' as happens so often with responsible women who take the pill!
Toni, UK

The idea sounds good to me - being in a long term, trusting relationship with a woman who has problems with the female pill, this would be ideal for us. We've been waiting for these clinical trials to conclude. But I'd need to know a lot more about this first. Messing around with your body's hormones can have subtle effects - as my girlfriend discovered with the female pill. It's definitely a good thing that we're getting more choice of contraceptives though. Hopefully someday soon they will have a pill only option available - the patch sounds like a hassle, and another thing that can go wrong or be forgotten. I think for the majority of couples that don't experience problems with it, the female pill is still the best option.

Alistair, UK

Most men would probably forget at the best of times, therefore, not really a safe solution to the problem. The women are the reliable species, they do a good job, give them credit.
Al Robinson, Slovak Republic

In my experience women cannot be relied upon to take the pill every day. In my last relationship I was the one that constantly had to remind my girlfriend to take the pill. I would happily take a male pill if proved safe. As a man I have only one point where I can exercise choice in whether or not I become a father, that is at the time of intercourse. Women have the choice later, once the pregnancy has been detected, to abort. I accept that this is not pleasant or an option that some women would take, but the option is there. I think men are at least as reliable as women when it comes to contreception.
Dave, UK

I certainly won't be trusting the male of the species to protect me from getting pregnant - I am the one who will be left holding the baby!

E Bennett, UK

Men are not used to thinking about the consequences when they forget to take their pill. They always rely on women to think about bith control drugs. I believe that if we women let men take birth control drugs, there will be a lot of unwanted pregnancies. Both partners should consent on using condoms.
De Plekker Carolien, Belgium

Well, I sure as hell will take it when it comes out, as long as the side effects aren't too severe. I'm never totally at ease with using only one form of contraception, and it's nice not to bother with condoms once a relationship has become long-term.
Tim Aidley, UK

Men are not prepared to put their health at risk by taking the Pill. After all, they are not the ones who have to live with the consequences of becoming pregnant, and mostly feel that contraception is the woman's responsibility. Even in long-term relationships or marriages, this still holds true, especially north of the Border where chauvenism is still alive and well.
Mary Ann Coyle, Scotland

I would have no intention of taking a male pill. I would not like my hormone balance disrupted, thank you very much. I think condoms are a much better option - especially as they block STDs in most cases.
Elliot, UK

I am appalled at the way this vote has reflected how we have only pretended to show progress in the shedding of outdated and chauvinistic ideals. We men MUST begin to take some of the responsibility for birth control. It is of vital importance that men understand that the burden should be shared and given the chance so must we men rise to the occasion, if you will excuse the pun! We are on the verge of a new millennium and, worries of side effects aside, it is about time men started moving with the times. Shame on those men who voted no, and shame on the women who voted no for not having a little more faith in men.
Andrew Parker, Norway

It is just as much of a man's repsonability to take control of birth control as a woman but today's society has built up that a condom is enough for everything. Well they split at times and then problems arise. The woman has to make the extra efforts to gt a morning after pill. Okay, STDs are not covered but split condoms cannot protect you either.
Adam Stevens, UK

I have just read some bloke's response that women should not rely on men to be "that considerate". Why should it be seen to be "considerate" to take a contraceptive pill? We women don't take the pill to be considerate to you men, so that you won't have to stand by us! It's a question of responsibility not consideration. It's about time men took responsibility too, but I don't think they ever will.
Carron Stacey, UK

I would be happy to take the pill, after all, my marriage is a partnership with us sharing the responsibilites. It's time that men were given a break. Ok so there are some that are unreliable, but then so are a percentage of women. I wouldn't tar all women with the same brush so why should it be assumed that all men are irresponsible?
James Crawshaw, UK

When is it ready? I would be prepared to take part in an Australian trial.
Adrian Kenny, Australia

I for one am wary about taking the pill for the most obvious reason, side affects. I know that from both my sisters' experiences and my partner's experiences with the female pill, you cannot avoid the possibility of side effects. There is no information about this currently therefore I would be one of the more cautious males regarding our pill and wait for a more seasoned report about it. Also I would like to point out that even with the success of the female pill, there are cases of women getting pregnant even whilst taking the pill, therefore even though current tests are given the green light, I still would use a condom, whether I was in a relationship or for casual sex ... .after all it is an excellent preventer of STDs which in my opinion is more important than getting pregnant.
Jason, UK

Take a pill everyday? They can't even remember to put the toilet seat down! We are better off to leave the responsibility to the woman, men have been making them responsible for centuries!
Mildred, USA

I think that many men would take a pill if it were safe. However, I am personally worried about the progesterone-testosterone combination proposed in this study. Progesterone is an hormone associated with the female gender and I would be worried about side effects, mainly feminisation of the male. However, testosterone would probably compensate for the effect of progesterone. Definitive conclusions need to be drawn before claiming male oral contraceptives are safe. We do not need to forget that oral contraceptives in females only play on the levels of progesterone and estrogens. In males that have very low amounts of progesterone, the introduction of levels of progesterone sufficient to prevent sperm formation may be worrisome. At present date, if indeed this therapy would be advised only for males with a stable relationship and who don't want other children, I would go for the good old vasectomy and get it over with.
Luc Levesque, Canada

I don't think the pill wil be used as an alternative to the female contraceptive methods. After all, women have more to lose from falling pregnant than men do. It would be foolish for women to trust men to take the pill. However, the male pill would be great for men who don't trust women, as an added insurance against paternity suits, etc. But the final word belongs to women here.
M B Horsten, South Africa

I'd forget to take it. Also as a female colleague remarked no women would trust a man to take it!
Simon Campbell-Smith, UK

There was a recent court case in California, where a woman wanted a child, and her long-time boyfriend did not. She stopped taking the pill, and did not inform her boyfriend. She had the child, and promptly kept it. Her boyfriend wanted visiting rights. Seems like a bit of trouble, for the lack of a pill ... The short and round of it is, men don't want to have children as much as women do. If they are not married, chances are the woman will opt for a child herself, and will stop taking the pill. What's a guy to do? Well, the obvious thing isn't to put the power in a bunch of motherly females.
Mat Cauthon, USA

I think Men should not have to take the pill, It is an obligation on women to do so!
Nadia Beach, UK

If you asked the thousands of FATHERLESS kids out there about this, they would say NO. Women bear the responsibility of taking care of children. Men can't handle the respnsibilty of parenthood because it requires sacrifice, giving of yourself and patience.
Melanie Buswell, USA

As long as there were no side-effects I'd certainly use it. I do not want to deal with children at this point in my life, and you can't be too safe...
Sean Aschen, USA

Men will take the pill, but women won't trust them to take it. So it will be a useful way to reduce the chance of pregnancy, but it won't be used as the only method of contraception.
Mathew, USA

This would work better if you put it in beer.....
Chriss Earnest, USA

It's a woman's job to look after contraception as a man puts enough chemicals through lager into their bodies that they will not remember to take the damn thing. Oh just a thought but if they put it into the beer then the responsibility would lay with the landlords.
Seriously though, as a married man who has children I think it is a great idea, but also being a man I would not recommend that women rely on men to be that considerate.
Brett, UK

Let's stop all the clich_about men not being reliable enough to take a pill everyday - that's just sexist nonsense. I think this is great news for men. Now they will have a means to protect themselves from the consequences of unwanted pregnancy, just as women do.
Sally-Ann, UK

It is not so much whether men would take the pill, but rather whether women would believe that they had, after all they cannot get pregnant so do not have such a compelling reason for remembering to take it. Would you believe a man who said "don't worry darling, I'm on the pill"?
S Keefe, UK

Judging by the majority of the women's comments on this page it seems hardly likely that they will benefit from this pill simply by their hateful attitude towards men.
Steve, UK

The pill is only really useful for a small group of men, those who would have considered a vasectomy. Responsibility isn't really an issue because it can't really be considered a complete birth control solution. If it was to be used for casual sex, than the man should be using a condom also. Personally i think a lot of men might abuse the responsibility and lie about taking it.
Neil Fraser, USA

There are too many elements in today's society that factor negatively in our physical well being. The risk of hampering my ability to father a child with these chemicals is too high. Condoms, whilst not entirely satisfactory in terms of pleasure for either party, will do the job until you are with that suitable long-term partner.
Matt Garcia, England

I think men will tell women that they are taking the pill, just for fun. I would in a casual relationship situation.
Richard Matt, UK

I think men in long term sensible relationships would be willing to give it a go. I also believe that they would be responsible in taking the pill. After all, most young chaps who are not ready do not want to be burdened with a child, even if it is the woman who has to carry it! Men do have to take far more responsibilities these days for fathering a child. In fact, this pill will give men more of a choice in deciding when they're ready to have children.
Nina, UK

Of course men would take it... we trust women (and we are sometimes wrong) and the women would have to trust us (and sometimes they would be wrong). Can't imagine anything better for sexual relationships.
Robert EKBLAD, Belgium

I can see arguments brewing between partners saying "it's your turn to take the pill". The other partner will probably turn round and say "no it's not I took it last night, it's your turn".
Chris, England

Where do I sign up?
Paul Allen, UK