To jump into the conversation Dana started about male contraception, I have to echo what she says (in response to Matt) about female hormonal contraception being no picnic in the park, either.
Awhile ago, over at Feministing, I wrote a post responding to a Gizmodo writer who was freaked out by the idea of a male contraceptive implant. His concerns:
- Scientists in Australia are developing a radio-controlled contraceptive implant that would control the flow of a man's sperm at the flick of a switch. The valve would be "push-fit" inside the vas deferens (duct that carries sperm from the testicles to the penis) and could be opened or closed remotely depending on the baby making needs of the user. This is making me a bit nauseous, but I will forge ahead...
- But what if your doctor is an asshole? You know, the kind of guy that will mess with his patient's junk from afar? Or what if the controls were stolen? It would be worrisome to say the least.
- That, and the very real possibility that the valve will clog with protein over time and the user will become permanently infertile.
To which I responded:
- Oh man, having an implant in your body so that you don't conceive? That sounds terrible. I can't believe anyone would willingly go through that.
- Yeah, what would it be like if your doctor or other health care professionals -- or heck, even your partner -- wanted to mess with your reproductive choices?! Or what if they wanted to prevent you from getting such a device, or on the flip side, to force you to get one? That would suck!
- Gee, must be tough for dudes to have to weigh some health risksand potential long-term side effects with other concerns -- like notwanting kids yet, but also not wanting to opt for permanentsterilization. Can't imagine what that's like.
Of course, the concerns raised by the Gizmodo guy are all goodreasons to be skeptical of such a device. I just wish he (and other menwho balk at having to make sacrifices for more effective contraception)would take a step back and acknowledge that these are concerns womenhave been weighing for decades. And choices we make on a daily basis. Irealize there's less of an incentive for men to go through all this,seeing as how they're at no risk for getting pregnant. But it would benice once in awhile to see Mr. Gizmodo and guys like him step back andacknowledge that, well, bearing the contraception burden sucks.
Also, like commenter Greg,I have zero confidence in the three-year estimate, seeing as how I'vebeen reading articles about how a male pill is forthcoming for quiteawhile now (April 2004, November 2004, January 2005, April 2006, November 2006, October 2007)...I guess if we can't have a more effective form of male contraception,at least we can have these conversations that serve as reminders to menof what women have been going through for a long time.
--Ann Friedman
