By Ella Rucker:

Today’s debate is for those of us who have been waiting to finally put the family planning in the man’s hands (no pun intended).  Scientists are on the verge of having a male hormone contraceptive (MHC) approved and on the market!  Now I haven’t been losing sleep waiting for the option, but I am so happy that we can begin discussing options for men that aren’t either all-or-nothing with vasectomies or a barrier method that only works if there is a barrier in place.

Men are now in the testing phase for birth control pills, creams, and injections.  These contraceptives use hormones to stop the production of sperm.  The upside, males are in the driver’s seat for their own health and well being.  No more guessing if their partners have got the birth control covered.  The downside, they are now subjected to the side effects of altering their hormones; something women have been doing with their own birth control since the 1960s and nature has been controlling forever.  Some of the men in the study found they were having side effects such as weight gain, headaches, and night sweats.

I’m a little leery about this one.  As I mentioned, women’s hormones have been on a roller coaster ride since the beginning of time.  Our pill has been known to level some women out and keep them from having mood swings, heavy periods and other complications of Mother Nature.  Men, as we know, sometimes don’t handle physical change or challenges well.  This is my opinion and I’m putting it out there for debate.  I just can’t see any woman dealing with a headache-y, night sweat-y, moody man once a month.  And turnabout is fair play because there are several men who feel the same way about women and their hormones.

Rene’s question on this is, “Not to mention will we really trust them when they say, ‘Trust me I’m on the pill.’ I mean they’re not the ones saddled with 9 months after an oops.”  Ahh, good point, my head GEM. I do know of one case (yes, a friend had this happen) where a man actually poked holes in a condom to try to trap this woman.  Again, this is my opinion, please don’t burn me at the stake, but since this is about men I feel I should point out that there are those who may use this new medical marvel for evil, i.e. saying he’s using the pill when he isn’t to tether a woman to him when she would otherwise be on her way out of the door.

Of course, male hormone contraception is definitely a good idea in my book.  It stops the controversy of full fledged vasectomies being the reason men in monogamous relationships can’t take an active lead in family planning.  There are those cases where women can’t take hormones for whatever reason and end up having major surgery just because their husbands refuse to have any type of operation to prevent pregnancy.  For those women having a partner on “the pill” keeps them out of the hospital both for having their tubes tied and for, uh, you know, giving birth.  And let’s not forget our sons.  There are a lot of irresponsible children out there having sex.  I would love to know that I could stuff my boys AND girls full of hormones if it meant I didn’t have to become a grandmother before I sent them off to college.  ALERT: Safe sex to and abstinence would be taught and encouraged for preventing disease and pregnancy, but in the realm of this conversation, if hormones are what it takes I’m all for it.  And, hey, sometimes you have to back up your back up, yes?

What say you?   Do you have any issues with male hormone contraception?  Are you pro or con?  Men, would you take it?  Women, do you think your partner would be willing to alter their hormones to have a more active role in your family planning?  I can’t wait to see what you all have to say about this one!

More From GEM:

Kids’ Questions: I Want To Go On The Pill

Ask Rene: Do I Have To Be Friendly With My Half-Siblings?

Ask Rene: I Want Another Baby, He Says No!