Birth Control for Men

Birth control has long been thought of as a precaution that women must take in order to monitor the rate and probability of having children. And, until recently, condoms have been the main method for men in reducing the risk of pregnancy for their partners.

However, birth control for men has been developing over the past few years, and there are additional methods that men may be able to use when it comes to family planning. Injections of the female hormone progesterone have been tested on men during the last couple of years (since 2004) as a form of birth control; the hormone lowers sperm count in men and has not been known to cause any side effects. This should be available to men everywhere in the next year or so, as scientists and physicians are still testing this procedure to make sure that it is effective.

Vasectomies have also been an option for birth control for men for a while, but this choice has never been popular, as there is surgery involved, and the results are permanent in most cases. However, many couples choose this option if the woman does not want to undergo any more medical procedures, since the surgery is fairly simple.

Of course, condoms are still an effective form of birth control, but this method is not favored by most men and/or their partners, and several men and their partners have reported that certain brands are not strong enough, or that a latex allergy prevents them from using condoms.

For more information on birth control for men, as well as new pending products or procedures, be sure to talk to your physician about effective strategies for family planning that will keep both partners healthy and happy; factors such as age, health, and lifestyle habits can contribute greatly to the effectiveness of birth control.