Research into a male birth control pill has been ongoing for 20-40 years across several countries. A potential pill contains the hormone progestogen to reduce sperm counts to zero, with effects reversing after stopping the pill. Some men may be interested in a male pill as an option for contraception, while others have concerns about side effects or a pill challenging traditional gender roles. A major challenge is pharmaceutical companies do not see sufficient demand to invest in developing a male pill.

1. Male Birth Control Pill
CARRIE AMBER GAXIOLA
for
Emerging Technology

2. The Basics:
 Research for 20-40 years
 United States, Australia, Germany, China, Italy, Netherlands
 About 10 specialists in the United States
Mar, 2004

3. How?!
Details Please!
 Pill contains the hormone Progestogen
 Affects daily sperm production- brings count down to ZERO!
 Takes about 2-3 months to be effective: Same amount of time
to reverse
 Men receive testosterone injections every 4-6 weeks
Zimmer, 2006, Mar, 2004

4. Non-hormonal Advances
 Inactivating tail of the sperm
 Immune System [Immunizations]
Watson, 2005

5. Serendipity:
Discoveries Made While
Studying Other Conditions
Unintended Side Effects of Other Medications
 Lonidamine: Drug used for cancer treatment
 Caused sperm production to cease
 Medication used to treat Schizophrenia & High Blood Pressure
 Affects contraction of muscle that moves sperm
Watson, 2005; Weaver, 2008

6. Choices for Men Available Now…
Men account for 30% of contraceptive use in the U.S.
 Condoms
 Only that protect from STDs
 Failure rate is below 14%
 Vasectomy
 Surgical. 99% successful
 Coitus interruptus
 35 million rely on this method
 4 out of 100 become pregnant if done correctly
 27 out of 100 become pregnant of done incorrectly
PP, 2008; George, 2002

7. Why men may think
this is a good idea…
 Over a million births each year occur that are unintended by the male
involved
 42% of 5,000 women polled [U.K.] would lie to a man about being
on contraceptive in order to get pregnant
[Survey by the National Scuples and Lies Survey]
 10% of children turn out not to be the offspring of the assumed
father when DNA tests are performed
 Child support can cost fathers 15-25%
of their take home pay, per child
 Widely believed fathers are second
class citizens in family courts
Dvorsky, 2008

8. Resistance, Opposition, & Challenges
 Real need
 Population control
 Church, Religious Conservatism
 FDA
 Social & Cultural Views
 Stigma?
 Feminine Domain?
 Sexism
Mar, 2004

9. The Main Hindrance…
Money!
Pharmaceutical companies do not see a demand.

10. How can it get off the ground?
Can it? Should it?
 Get the young on board first?
 Target men who may want vasectomies?
 Is the timing good?
 Is there a need?
 Relative Advantage:
Preventative Innovation
*Maybe it should be less complex
Minus injections?

11. Opinions.
What we know …
•Global survey of 9,000 men, ages 18-50:
55% expressed an interest in a new male
fertility control
•40% of American respondents expressed
willingness to use an implant or receive
regular injections
[conducted by Schering; Stacey, 2008]

12. Yahoo! Answers
Q: Scientists are working on creating a birth control pill for men.
One team has come up with a pill that does not affect hormone
levels like the female pill does.
So far in testing, the prototype has no notable side effects and is
reversible once the pill is discontinued.
Males: if this pill passes the testing phase and comes out on the
market, would you take it?
Females, do you have any opinions about this pill as well?

13. Some of what people said…
“… it would be great to have that option, and it would make me more comfortable as a guy of not
having to worry about getting a girl pregnant by accident…”
“…very happy to hear that guys get their turn to do this routine…”
“Any woman who relies on a man remembering to take the pill, and being honest when he forgets it, is
going to be a mother very soon! … women should take care of the contraception …”
“… I would take it. and plus, it would reduce the need of women to have to go through all those
changes in hormone-levels by discontinuing that pill, if the male birth control pill, proves to be
safer and more effective…”
“Good since I won't have to take it. I am happy with my vasectomy.”

14. Works cited
All images from Microsoft Word 2007 ClipArt.
Dvorsky, G. (2008). Sorry ladies, the male birth control is not about you. Institute of Ethics and Emerging
Technologies. Retrieved October 28, 3008, from
http://ieet.org/index.php/IEET/more/dvorsky20080501.
George, K. (2002). Male birth control pill studied. Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Retreived October 28, 2008, f
rom http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/96391_malepill20.shtml
Mar, A. (2004). Jagged little pill: Will male birth control even become a reality? Medical Examiner.
Retrieved October 28, 2008 from, http://slate.msn.com/id/2107558.
Planned Parenthood. (2008). Withdrawal method. Retrieved November 4, 2008 from,
http://www.plannedparenthood.org/health-topics/birth-control/withdrawal-pull-outmethod-4218.htm.
Stacey, D. (2008). Men’s Birth Control…The Wait Continues. About.com. Retrieved October 27, 2008
from, http://contraception.about.com/b/2008/08/07/mens-birth-controlthe-waitcontinues.htm
Watson, S. (2005). How the male birth control pill will work. Howstuffworks.com. Retrieved October 29,
2008 from, http://health.howstuffworks.com/male-bc-pill.htm
Weaver, J. (2006). At last! Scientists develop male pill: Single dose, hormone free drug prevents ejaculation
of sperm. MSNBC.com. Retrieved October 29, 2008 from,
http://www.msnbc.com/id/15937201/print/1/.
Zimmer, D. (2006). The Male Contraceptive Pill. AskMen.com. Retrieved October 29, 2008 from,
http://www.askmen.com/dating/dzimmer_60/72_love_answers.html.
Yahoo Answers: Retrieved November 8, 2008 from
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Al7zVN5eQ4z6ps2PvEYdPTUjzKIX;_ylv=3
?qid=20061203184501AArl5DW