The Future of Birth Control:

Eliminating Gender Stereotypes

Surrounding Contraception

Allison Culp
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
Contraception Today

Most methods geared toward women only

Pressure of responsibility
Social Stigma Attached to Contraception

Social stigma surrounding birth control users

Lack of understanding and misconceptions; alternate benefits or reasons for using
contraceptives

Education disparity between males and females

...men's lack of contraceptive education compared to women also contributes to this

division of labor. (Fennell).

Religion and government

Media - Breitbart Birth Control Makes Women Unattractive and Crazy

Current Research Toward Contraceptives
for Men

1996- weekly injections of testosterone to reduce the spermatozoa count below the
threshold of fertility (BMJ)

2003- (Australia) implant of testosterone every four months; injection of progestin

every three months to inhibit signals for the body to produce spermatozoa (Dalton et
al).

2009- Anti-eppin agent: anti-eppin antibodies are able to reduce the motility of
spermatozoa (ORand et al).

2014- Gendarussa: this non-hormonal pill weakens enzymes in sperm to prevent it from
fertilizing an egg (Winn)
Current Research Toward Contraceptives
for Men

2016- Vasalgel: The Reversible Vasectomy

an injection into the vas deferens

fills it with a polymer that creates a

semi-permeable barrier to separate spermatozoa

from seminal fluid (Parsemus Foundation)

Current Research Toward Contraception for
Men

2016- 2-hormone injection; Intramuscular injections of 200-mg norethisterone

enanthate combined with 1000-mg testosterone undecanoate, administered every 8
weeks. (Behre et al).

High success rate:four pregnancies occurred among the partners out of 266 male
participants.

More than 75% reported being at least satisfied with the method and willing to
use this method if available.

Twenty men dropped out of the study due to side effects

The Complications

Non-cyclical nature of male hormones

Quantity of available gametes makes controlling their release more

difficult
Conclusion

As more options for men are available, the responsibility of

contraception will become shared and the concept normalized

Promotes healthy, safe sex practices and increased conversation

between men and women
"Consequently, I suggest that this communication gap also contributes to what appears as the
gendered division of contraceptive labor. Men's reluctance and uncertainty around
communicating about contraception leaves women with the impression that they are expected
to take the lead in contraceptive decisions and use." (Fennell).
Works Cited
Behre, Hermann M et al. "Efficacy and Safety of an Injectable Combination Hormonal Contraceptive for Men." The Journal of
Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism 101.12 (2016): 4779-788.

BMJ. Male Pill Could Soon Be Reality. BMJ: British Medical Journal, vol. 312, no. 7037, 1996, pp. 996996.

Dalton, Melissa et al. Australia: New Male Contraceptive: 100% Effective. Off Our Backs, vol. 33, no. 11/12, 2003, pp. 66.

Fennell, Julie Lynn. MEN BRING CONDOMS, WOMEN TAKE PILLS: Men's and Women's Roles in Contraceptive Decision Making.
Gender and Society, vol. 25, no. 4, 2011, pp. 496521.

O'Rand et al. "Inhibition of Human Sperm Motility by Contraceptive Anti-eppin Antibodies from Infertile Male Monkeys: Effect on
Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate." US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health (2008): 279-85

Winn, Patrick. "Indonesia's New Male Birth Control Pill Is '99 Percent Effective'." Public Radio International. Public Radio
International, 3 Dec. 2014. Web. 5 Feb. 2017.