The contraceptive pill was launched in 1961.
Initially it was only available to married women through the NHS and for older women who already had kids (and didn’t want to get pregnant again), however public pressure forced the government to allow family planning clinics to prescribe it to single women as well.
At the moment, there is still no contraceptive method for men (barring condoms), however scientists are trialling male contraceptive pills, which – depending on the results – could soon become available.
But there’s another option on the horizon: male contraception gel.
As part of a new clinical trial, which starts today, 450 couples will test the gel for a year, including James Owers, 29, and Diana Bardsley, 27.
The pair live in Edinburgh, where he works as a PhD student and she is a social researcher.
‘Men need more options,’ James told The Guardian.
‘Right now it’s very easy for men to say “it’s not really on me”.
‘If the gel becomes widely available, it’s much more stark that by not taking that option, you actively made the decision to not take responsibility.’
The product will need to be applied on a daily basis, to the chest, shoulders and upper arms. It contains two main compounds; progesterone, which shuts down sperm production, and testosterone.
Scientists have added testosterone because it functions as a boosting mechanism if there is a drop in the hormone, as otherwise men could experience side effects including low mood, weight gain and a reduced sex drive.
This is one of the areas where the male contraceptive pill hasn’t been as successful; testosterone metabolises quickly in the liver, and the pills don’t work fast enough.
Diana has high hopes for the gel and believes it could encourage men to be more responsible in doing their part.
‘I think it’s a massive deal,’ she said.
‘It gives the chance for men to have this great combination of autonomy and more responsibility as well. That can only have a positive impact on the relationship between men and women in society.’
The hope is that the gel, which is being tested in the UK, Sweden, Chile and Kenya, will demonstrate fewer side effects.
There is however one issue that some couples may find somewhat annoying; the female partner can’t touch the part of the body where the gel is administered.
If she does, the woman could be affected by the hormone. It’s recommended that the man shower before bed or wear a t-shirt at night.
‘Before the pill came into existence we couldn’t have predicted the effects it would have in society,’ said John Reynolds-Wright, a clinical research fellow who is leading the trial in Edinburgh.
‘In the same way, I don’t think we can really accurately predict the effect this will have.
‘But like the pill, I think it will be largely for the positive.’
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