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The Best Birth Control In The World Is For Men
- d2vid 15y agoMy girlfriend told me about this because she gets blood clots from hormonal birth control and we wish this was an option today. You should complete this survey like I did if you are interested: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/TSKSKGM http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/TSKSKGM
- dfc 15y agoWhat happens with the survey? Are you affiliated?
- d2vid 15y agoNo affiliation. I think they might contact you to get quotes for media about how cool it would be and to notify you of their progress.
- Lazare 15y agoMy fiancée cannot use hormonal birth control for the same reason. Instead, she has a copper based IUD. Your girlfriend has probably considered this already, but if not I strongly recommend looking into it. They're not perfect, but they're very good. (There are only two real risks/side effects: Heavier bleeding, and it's important not to get Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (which is another way of saying, it's even more important than normal not to get STDs. If she can handle the first, and is in a monogamous relationship - or at least, always uses condoms with people who aren't guaranteed STD free - then neither issue is severe.) Mind you, vasalgel sounds even better to me. :)
- GFischer 15y agoI guess she already did, but have you tried switching pills? (after asking a gynaecologist I guess) My girlfirend reacted very badly to a well-known and tested brand, however she seems to do much better with a local-brand product with different composition (started that one a few months ago).
- schiffern 15y agoYou should talk to you doctor about progestin-only contraception. Blood clots, heart problems, cancer, bone loss, and sun sensitivity are all associated with estrogen-containing birth controls. From my research, progestin-only methods don't have those drawbacks. As always, IANAD and this is not medical advice, but you should talk to one.
- WA 15y agoThere's a highly effectivy method called symptothermal method. It is basically a combination of temperature measuring and cervical mucus observation, as both symptoms change during the menstrual cycle and when ovulation occurs, you can tell from the symptoms. After you successfully determined that the ovulation passed, a woman is infertile until her next cycle starts. This means that during that time, you don't need any condoms or anything. Unfortunately, while being extremely well-researched in Germany for more than 30 years, it is quite uncommon in the US and only known as "Fertility Awareness", which is not the "pure" symptothermal method. The method is oftentimes associated (wrongly) with Christian groups. You can check out Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fertility_awareness http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fertility_awareness Edit: Perfect use application of the "pure" symptothermal method has a Pearl Index of 0.4 (99.6% effectiveness) and typical use is 1-3 (97-99%). This is quite comparable to the pill.
- spydum 15y agoI would be concerned about forgetting to get it redone on year 11.. then surprise! From the sounds of it though, you'd still have the same side effects of a traditional vasectomy: sperm granuloma. So one is mostly permanent (reconnection can happen, though super rare).. and one is only good for a few years? Yeah.. I think I'd wait for the first 10 years to see the efficacy.
- shadowfiend 15y agoI believe we've already waited 10 years. That's why it's “10+”—the oldest trials are about 10 years old at this point, and the effect is still the same (as far as I've been able to read). More, as usual, at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reversible_inhibition_of_sperm_under_guidance http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reversible_inhibition_of_sperm_... , including critique.
- busted 15y agoI don't see how it sounds like you'd get a granuloma. It sounds like the sperm are destroyed as they pass through the vas deferens but are still washed out as they normally would be.
- spydum 15y agoAh, I did not read up apparently. I thought this was essentially gluing the vas shut with a polymer that was reversible. According to the wikipedia entry, they don't know the exact reason it works (what?!). Very interesting.. I had overlooked that.
- doah78 15y agoJust schedule it along with your passport renewal! If you are in the US~
- schiffern 15y agoIt doesn't in langur monkeys: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12826690 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12826690
- dfc 15y agoThe best birth control in the world is one that allows women to have control (and peace of mind) over the process/efficacy.
- jff 15y agoThey already have that. It's very nice that there's also something men can have, both to supplement female birth control and to provide peace of mind for the man. It's not a "one or the other" proposition.
- egiva 15y agoYeah, why not have two contraceptive methods in play - like a "Plan A" and a "Plan B"? I think you're on the right track here. Many men, including myself, feel pretty equal with their spouse in terms of family planning, but having a Plan B would definitely give me more peace of mind "just in case" haha.
- dfc 15y agoUm, "best" neccesarily implies a "one or the other" proposition.
- i_cannot_hack 15y agoNo, "best" means that one is more effective than the other, it does in no way mean that only one method should be used.
- earbitscom 15y agoGood point, but I'd argue for both people. The best birth control in the world is one that both parties know has actually been administered.
- monochromatic 15y agoWhy is the best birth control in the world so one-sided?
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- carbocation 15y agoLet's not trivialize birth control with a title like this. Good birth control comes from empowering both partners, and protecting those who are unwilling partners. For women, an IUD is a great option. For men, barrier methods have been the only reliable, reversible methods until now. This is exciting, but let's not forget about the whole scope and meaning of self-control over reproduction.
- Resident_Geek 15y agoI don't see how this title trivializes birth control. Good birth control comes from controlling birth. I don't believe any other method can claim 10+ years of effectiveness, with practically no side effects and high reversibility.
- carbocation 15y agoIntrauterine devices (IUDs) fit exactly that bill. But one of my points is that one form of birth control, only for men or only for women, shouldn't wear the title "best."
- nekitamo 15y agoHave you ever had sex with someone who has an IUD. Or talked to a woman with an IUD to see her opinion on it? Because it's not all you make it out to be.
- carbocation 15y agoI'm not sure how that would inform my awareness of the fact that IUDs provide effective birth control for women for 10 years after insertion. But I'm in medical school, so you can make a guess as to how many of the women that I know happily use IUDs (hint: many).
- rudiger 15y agoWhen you say you know these women, do you mean in the biblical sense?
- Nesterov 15y agoOooo interesting. Now if they can slap an anti-virus on it, I'll be sold.
- Lost_BiomedE 15y agoI am always surprised that every discussion of vasectomy, and even this solution, hand-waves away the experience one undergoes in the process. Before doing this yourself, at least know what your getting into: http://thebrowser.com/articles/final-cut http://thebrowser.com/articles/final-cut For example, compare "one little injection" to "I don't scream, but I clamp my jaw so tightly it clicks. I arch my back so much I end up looking behind me at the door."
- maaku 15y agoThis is not a vasectomy. It's not even related to vasectomy. Please RTFA.
- dangrossman 15y agoIsn't that a little much? The procedure sounds identical to a vasectomy except the very last step -- instead of cutting the vas deferens you inject this substance into them.
- maaku 15y agoIt's a shot vs. a surgical procedure. It's a world of difference.
- dangrossman 15y agoAs you like to say, RTFA. They are both surgical procedures and the procedures are _identical_: make a hole or cut in the scrotum, pull out the vas deferens. In a vasectomy, you now cut the vas deferens. In a RISUG, you now inject the fluid into the vas deferens. Push the vas deferens back into the scrotum, repeat on the other testicle, and cover the wound. Both procedures can be done through a very small opening that requires no stitches, in a doctor's office, in under half an hour.
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- silentscope 15y agoI do see a market with this, but it's got a lot of problems you'd need to navigate. Nothing a smart team couldn't figure out. Most of the time, men trust women when they say they're on birth control. Women get pregnant--a big deal. It's less likely (but not unheard of) that a woman wants to get pregnant and then lies about birth control. Men, on the other hand, would love to not use a condom. And men don't get pregnant. So saying "yeah baby, I've had my shots" would probably be a lot more common. You'd need to market this to couples. Relationships with trust--not teenagers. Or, as an "and-1", extra step prevention. Not as a first line of defense. Then, the low cost would be more of an extra procedure that would get them thinking more about being safer. You wouldn't hang your business model on it but could actually do more business by offering it. Lastly, being a man, the idea of someone putting forceps in my scrotum gives me the willies. Just sayin'.
- ianferrel 15y agoIsn't most non-condom birth control primarily intended for couples? All the other types prevent pregnancy only. Condoms prevent disease as well.
- dfc 15y agoHormone based birth control for women has ancillary health benefits outside of family planning.
- kisielk 15y agoAs well as a lot of drawbacks and side-effects.
- Lazare 15y agoOf course, it also lowers sex drive[1], while causing weight gain, cancer[3], and heart problems[4]. For historical reasons IUDs are uncommon in the US. This is unfortunate. They aren't perfect, but they are relatively cheap, extremely reliable, and remarkably safe. Depending on the type, they also have few or no side effects. Worth considering... [1]: This one arguably isn't a health benefit, but in many ways it's huge. With a few exceptions, humans are sexual beings, and frequency of sexual encounters correlates highly to a range of positive health outcomes, happiness, avoidance of depression, and strong long-lasting relationships. [2]: This one confuses people, because it also prevents cancer. Best evidence is that it has a fairly strong protective effect on ovarian cancer, but causes breast and cervical cancer. The net effect on total cancer rates is still unknown; it's certainly not a clear cut benefit though, and it may be a clear net negative. (As always, these sort of epidemiology numbers are a real headache to parse. Comparing a big effect on a rare event to a small effect on a common event is very tricky. Still, anything that boosts breast cancer rates is kind of scary.) [3]: This one is clearcut. Hormone based birth control causes a range of heart issues, from heart attacks via clots, to cardiovascular diease. We're still trying to figure out how big this factor is, but it's already clear that if you have any risk factors (ie, you're overweight, or have a family history of heart disease) you should NOT be on combined oral contraceptives, and any hormone based birth control is very iffy.
- raju 15y agoRelevant HN discussion from 10 months ago - http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2602785 http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2602785
- natasham25 15y agoI've asked my guy friends whether they would get this procedure, and none of them will. Guys expect women to mess with their bodies, but are not willing to make the sacrifice themselves when it comes down to it, even though this is more safe and harmless than pumping your body with hormones every day.
- kisielk 15y agoNot sure why some guys have so many reservations about this, it sounds like a simple and reversible procedure with a quick recovery. I'd get it if it were available in Canada.
- salsakran 15y agoUhm, it involves cutting open your scrotum. The idea that people will casually do this is ... hilarious.
- pjscott 15y agoThe incisions are very small, made under local anesthetic, and recovery time should be quick. Doesn't that sound less frightening than hormonal birth control?
- burgerbrain 15y agoLocal anaesthetic is hardly a selling point to me. I'd prefer general, even thought that has the slight risk of death. Better than the (in my experience) 100% chance of "whoops! We'll give you another shot of that and give it a few more minutes to set in." That's happened to be with 2 back surgeries, one on my arm, and every filling I've ever had done. Anyway, I'd get this procedure done in a heartbeat anyway.
- xibernetik 15y agoAnd current birth control methods for women include injections of artificial hormones, dilating their cervix and putting a piece of plastic or metal part their vagina and into their body, and surgery to open the stomach and clamp certain organs shut. Whether or not it's hilarious, those practices are accepted as normal. Birth control that involves body modifications is anything but casual, but to draw the line of it being ridiculous at when it involves male genitalia is a bit narrow-minded.
- swah 15y agoI thought it was abstinence..
- pinchyfingers 15y agoomg omg omg omg omg omg omg omg omg omg omg omg Please let this be real. Male birth control is one of the top things that I wish for everyday. The really great thing is that this isn't just a first-world problem. Birth control is obviously a huge issue in developing nations. So, while I can chase the dream of male birth control for purely selfish reasons, to address my privilege problems, I'm at the same time involved in a solution for a very real problem in the world.
- jason_tko 15y agoDid you read about what's involved in the actual procedure...? If you read the steps necessary for the procedure and manage to maintain your enthusiasm, you have my awed and confusion admiration.
- schiffern 15y agoYou know that's exactly the same thing that's involved in a vasectomy, right? Except with a vasectomy you have the risk of chronic testicular pain.
- m_for_monkey 15y agoYou know that a vasectomy is at least two weeks of hell, right? Of course, in the long run it may worth it. Should You Get a Vasectomy? http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=3775066 http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=3775066
- schiffern 15y agoAll you have demonstrated is that one person had a bad experience with a vasectomy and decided to write about it. >The operating room is cold. The walls are busy with gruesome anatomical diagrams, cross sections that make the male genitalia resemble charcuterie. I lie back on the table, draw the paper sheet over my crotch, and seconds later the doctor and an older, hen-shaped nurse enter the room. I know that all reporting is biased, but the signal-to-noise ratio here is abysmal.
- sanderjd 15y agoWhile this is generally fantastic, it seems like it would be a real bummer in an apocalyptic modern-medicine-eliminated need-to-repopulate type of situation (only mostly kidding).
- radu_floricica 15y agoIf it really happens, you don't want to have children for the first few years anyway. And since slowly wears off, it's pretty much the ideal scenario.
- schiffern 15y agoRISUG is indeed a great contraceptive, but when talking about its benefits for HIV we should be incredibly careful. RISUG isn't a cure-all. Transmission is still possible through microtears and directly through the skin of the glans penis and the meatus. And RISUG does nothing to prevent female->male transmission. It's far too easy for "RISUG inactivates HIV in some components of semen" to transmute into "It's ok baby, I got a shot that protects me from HIV!"
- dr_ 15y agofemale to male transmission rates are really low in general.
- baddox 15y agoAll sexual transmission rates are pretty "low," if Wikipedia's sources are accurate. Even anal intercourse is under 2%.
- philwelch 15y agoPer incidence; that's a 1 out of 50 chance every single time.
- deleted 15y ago[deleted]
- loup-vaillant 15y agoMeaning, you reach 50% after 35 times.
- ianterrell 15y agoThat was a fun weekend!
- ashconnor 15y agoDepends on when your partner was infected. If it was recently then the transmission rate is very high.
- celerity 15y agoFirst of all, it's still in trials. Second of all, what should set off an immediate alarm is the claim of "100% effectiveness" (and safety for that matter, what if the doctor screws up and cuts your tubes?). No, thanks.
- celerity 15y agoIn fact, if you check the Wikipedia article for this thing you will see a large amount of controversy and problems that the article just ignores. That alone is enough for me to not consider this seriously. It would indeed be nice if this form of birth control were real, but as things stand it's just vaporware for medicine. It's really amazing to me how many people believe anything they want to hear...
- eurohacker 15y agousing startup terminology, Vasalgel is revolution of the birth control industry , like Skype was in the phone call idustry
- JohnnyFlash 15y agoIt sounds great. My partner's family has a history of cancer so she doesn't want to go on any kind chemical birth control. Nor is she keen on something like the coil. I have always wondered why there are so few contraceptive options for men. I know a lot of guys who have had the kids they want and contraception is a hassle. Something like this for couples which is inject once and forget for a decade sounds ideal.
- spurgu 15y agoThis would be so awesome. The world is overpopulated, largely because of recklessness. Most people don't plan on having 4 children, it just happens. I would instantly have this procedure.
- joeycfan 15y agoAh but you under estimate the 'running away screaming' factor.
- dbg9 15y agoFuck no you aren't cutting a hole in my balls. This was clearly posted by a woman. Just take your pill, Honey. That way they don't have to cut into my balls.