http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2012-03/popsci-qampa-john-amory-has-been-developing-male-contraceptive-15-years
This article discusses the implications of developing a male contraceptive. Doctor John Armory of the University of Washington has spent the last 15 years attempting to develop a male contraceptive device in the form of a birth control pill. The reason he says it is taking so long is because while a female only produces a single egg in a month, males produce thousands of sperm every second. The basis behind the pill is simply using testosterone to shut down the production of endorphins in the brain that tell the body to produce sperm cells. There is also a mtethod of using proteins that prevent the sperm from swimming as well as controlling the body's production of Vitamin A which gets converted to a type of acid needed for sperm production.
What are the social and/or ethical issues in such a device for men? Will it's popularity be mired or will it ultimately find use among all of the common population?
I feel that the Catholic Church will become involved quickly and go against this use because it will alter the natural nature of men. Another issue will be that men who use this may be more prone to have more casual sex, which can increase the likely hood of getting STD's. Yet I believe that the biggest problem is the fact that regulating and limiting endorphins in the brain that tell the body to produce sperm cells can effect the man in their overall health. Woman today suffer from several medical conditions because of birth control, specifically losing the ability to reproduce. Men might suffer more serve health problems. However, I feel that this will become popular among the population because it will be consider another safety step when having sex, beside the condom and the pill.
ReplyDeleteThis might and probably would encourage casual sex among men, however who am I, who is the government, who is the church to tell someone they can or cannot do something they want to do. If a male contraceptive was developed, then hey - having casual sex with almost no chance of an unwanted pregnancy is better than having casual sex with a greater chance of an unwanted pregnancy. What is the good in an unwanted pregnancy that could end up in an abortion or carried to term where the baby could live a terrible life if it doesn't have the right environment because two people had casual sex and were not ready to provide for a child. Anyway that an unwanted pregnancy, (which could end very disastrous on the mother or child's end) can be prevented, in this case it is sometimes for the better! If there were male contraceptives like this, there should be no social/ethical issues - just as there shouldn't be for woman's contraceptives. I could go on an on but I am going to stop here! I like to talk about this kind of stuff - just another one of my liberal rants!
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