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  • Title: New methods could test male responsibility.
    Author: Ringheim K.
    Journal: Entre Nous Cph Den; 1991 Dec; (19):5. PubMed ID: 12222222.
    Abstract:
    Fertility regulation in the 21st century could include equal numbers of contraceptive methods for both men and women. By that time there will be several methods of contraception for men. The 2 most promising methods are vas occlusion and injectable male hormone. If these options are made available for men will they accept them? If they don't, what are the barriers to acceptance and how can they be overcome? Men currently are involved in family planning with 60 million having vasectomies, 50 million using condoms, and withdrawal practiced widely on an intermittent basis. However, these figures are very low in terms of their shared responsibility. Women make up the vast majority of contraceptive users. Vasectomy involves an incision, so to some cultures and some men it is unacceptable. Also it is not reversible unlike vas occlusion, which consists of injecting a substance into the vas which sets in 10 minutes and acts as a plug. It can be removed at a later date, with a small incision. The long acting male hormones are based on testosterone enanthate and must be injected every week. Fertility is restored within 6 months after the shots are stopped. A better version based on testosterone ester would only have to be injected every 3 to 4 months. There will be a wide range of sociological impacts that must be studied to ensure that these methods are accepted and widely used. Men may not be willing to participate in fertility control or child spacing in many cultures. Education campaigns must be developed to inform the male members of the public that methods are available and safe. Men should be encouraged to go to the family planning clinic since, currently, the vast majority of those going are women. Once male contraceptive methods are available for wide spread use, couples will be able to go the family planning clinic and choose not only which method, but which partner will be responsible for fertility control. It is also possible that each person will want to take charge of regulating his own fertility.
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