Through the Looking Glass: A hard pill to swallow
Male birth control a mixed promise of things to come
By Sarah Delia, staff writer
Posted on January 25, 2007

High school health class has to be the most humorous, embarrassing and frightening encounters each of us has ever had the displeasure of experiencing. Sure, we may have bragged about how many times we’d had a sexual encounter (most likely lies), wrote dirty questions on the note cards that were passed around during question time, or laughed every time a picture of the female or male anatomy was placed on the overhead projector. But, truth be told, we all had one thing in common — we were scared pants-less of the three-letter word uttered countless times by our gym teachers: sex. Abstinence was first advocated, then condoms, then female birth control pills, and then? Well, then it was time for study hall, the bell rang and no one really thought of: “What other type of birth control can I use?” but rather; “what color prom dress am I going to wear and who’s paying for the limo?”

In attempt to add another alternative for heterosexual couples to dabble with while trying to practice “safe sex,” the male version of the development of “the pill” is gaining some premature popularity. Two different male pills have begun to be tested on animals and are even on the market overseas, one of which involves using hormones and the other without. Dr. Chuen Yan Cheng of the Population Council in New York, who is pioneering this non-hormone approach, uses a chemical called ad-herin, which hinders the way that key cells in the testes aid to nurture the creation of mature sperm. The helping tissue (Sertoli cells) that leads to the development of mature sperm is broken down by the ad-herin drug and therefore does not allow the sperm to be developed.

Sperm count is then temporarily lowered, technically making the man infertile but leaving his hormones — and sexual ability — intact. The “dry orgasm” is the technical term to the sexual pleasure men would experience. Tests were done on vital organs and, according to Cheng, the drug had “no effect” on them. The drug is not yet in pill form, a goal to work forward to, but rather beginning to be available in injection and implants.

Intrigued after researching such new advances in our modern world, I decided to spread the good word to a guy friend of mine, but was surprised to see looks of shock and even horror. He asked “Why would they make one for guys, is there something wrong with the one for the girl?” I realized this particular method would not be the same sexually liberating occurrence for men as the first birth control pill was for women in 1960. I thought this friend of mine was being particularly stupid, not being able to see the brink of the ultimate revolution for equality: birth control for both sexes that required more effort and reliability than picking up a pack of condoms. How could this not be a wonderful great new step to stop unwanted pregnancies that guys could participate in, just as women have for so long? Sure, the gynecologist visits are annoying, as is remembering to take a pill every day at the exact same time; furthermore, side effects that can occur, such as weight gain, loss of appetite and in some cases blood clots, are less than desirable. But hey, such are the sacrifices of practicing safe sex.

Then it hit me. My friend wasn’t stupid. He was a complete an utter genius, as are the rest of the male gender in this case, because somehow for so long they have been able to tiptoe their way around taking a daily contraceptive. Taking a daily contraceptive has always been women’s hot potato and will continue to be burdened with — unless this new form of birth control for men tastes like candy and has no side effects, which is not likely to be true. In terms of birth control, not a lot has changed since high school; three types are discussed, people still giggle when talking about sex, and when the bell rings, our minds move on to other things. And besides, what works, works, right?

Sarah Delia is a sophomore English and art history major.