By Swapna Tarafdar
Birth control will no more just be a woman’s job anymore. Now, men too can step in to prevent unplanned pregnancy. It’s all possible because of the male birth control pills which will make it possible for men now to share the responsibility when it comes to family planning. At present, the responsibility of family planning lies with the woman.
NEXT Life Sciences, is developing – Pause Pill – that temporarily prevents sperm movement from around two hours after taking it. This drug should be taken before having sex.
Women hormonal pills come with certain side effects and health ailments like headaches, nausea, spotting and breast tenderness subside with persistent use. Long-term usage can raise other serious health concerns such as hypertension, blood clots, liver-related complications and depression, among others.
Pause Pill is a non-hormonal, oral contraceptive that aims to provide about 24 hours of birth control. The pill is likely to hit the market in another two years, claims Next Like Sciences.
A survey funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, involving 19,000 adult men from Nigeria, Kenya, Cote d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Vietnam, Bangladesh, India and the US found that 78-98% of men, depending on the country, would take male contraceptive pills. The demand was high among men regardless of their relationship status.
NEXT Life Sciences claims that even after popping the pill men would still be able to get an erection and experience sexual pleasure. The pill works without shutting down the sperm production even though sperm isn’t released. Semen consists of about 5% sperm cells and 95% fluid (seminal plasma) secreted by various reproductive glands.
The organisation claims that developing a male contraceptive pill was more challenging as men produce millions of sperm. It is easier to block a single egg cell in women than millions of sperms.
Currently, there are only two contraceptive options available to men: condoms and vasectomy. NEXT Life Sciences will conduct a larger clinical trial starting at the end of this year.
The writer has covered health beat in India covering hospitals like AIIMS Delhi and other issues affecting our daily lives. {The Writer had worked in PTI, Muscat Daily, The Statesman, Metro Now and Today of India Today Group)
