Male attitudes to the pill

opinion guy

OK so this thread comes from discussion on another thread. I'm interested in male attitudes to the pill. From talking to many female friends and girlfriends over the years I've come to the conclusion men generally don't have a clue what its like to take the pill. So read the scenario and vote in the poll.

Here's the scenario:
You're 24 year old guy, dating your GF for one year. Your girlfriend was on the pill but has had to stop on doctors orders and she can't use other hormonal contraceptives. You guys are happy but still young and not ready for kids, need to get on with career etc etc. But since you are happy and in love if your girlfriend became pregnant you would stand by her, which given her strong personal objections against abortion means bringing up the baby or adoption.

A new product comes on the market - a contraceptive pill for males. By coincidence it happens to have similar side-effects to the female pill: nausea, vomiting, headache, breast tenderness, weight gain/fluid retention, increased risk of blood clots (meaning increased risk of stroke, pulmonary embolism etc), changes in your sexdrive (downward), depression, skin reactions, liver problems.

Additionally you have to take it every single day or you may not be protected.

A further precaution is that other prescription medications can prevent it from working.


So you now have a choice. Take this new medicine with all the these risks, guidelines and precautions, or make sure to use a condom every single time.

What do you do ? Vote above!


Edit: Mods: I tried to ad a poll but something went wrong. Can you add ?Options I wanted were:
1) Take the pill
2) Use condoms
3) undecided
4) i'm a girl

Madame Razz

If a woman could not take the 'normal' oral contraceptive pill then other options of hormonal would be tried first before imposing a 'blanket ban' on hormonal contraception. Some women who cannot take contraceptive pills orally actually get on very well with localised methods of contraception such as the Mirena IUS/IUD etc.

Diaphragms and Copper IUDs are also viable non-hormonal contraceptive methods.

A man taking a pill?? Much like a woman taking a pill it'll suit some and not others; and some will be good at taking it and others won't. I think a more longer lasting implant or something similar would be a better contraceptive option for a men if such a thing were to be developed tbh.

I don't know how comfortable I would feel with a man being the main person responsible for contraception in the relationship. If it fails well then I'm still the one who gets pregnant and has to deal with pregnancy, and he still has the option of taking to the hills if he wishes. I think most women like the control that looking after their own contraception affords; especially if they really don't want to get pregnant.

Plus given the 'manflu' phenomenon I shudder to think how the average male would deal with the typical side effects associated with the pill which a vast number of women experience and see as the norm.

I think I'd actually prefer to rely on the 'rhythm method' than rely on a man to take a pill tbh; I really can't see most men I know being massively good at taking something like a male contraceptive pill.

pwd

I'll repeat what I said on the other thread. I'd use condoms - no way I'd use a male version of the pill. I'd never just expect women to use it for that reason. In fact I think women should pay more consideration to the decision to use it, than they often do.

When I put it into this context I was a bit shocked that it is so established and accepted and even expected of women very often that they use it. I'm no feminist. In fact I usually think people who bleat on about women's rights in modern western society are full of hot air. However, it made me question what is expected and accepted for women, when I thought of it like this.
Alternatively, it's down to unscrupulous ways of making money by healthcare professionals.

Nervous Wreck

I've no problem using condoms and in past relationships when OH has been on the pill, we still used condoms. I wouldn't take anything that would give me those kinds of side-effects and I've never expected (nor asked) a girlfriend to use the pill.

Herbal Deity

I would take it even if she was also on the pill and would also continue to use condoms every time. In fact I'd probably take it if I was not in a relationship.

I think you overestimate the severity and frequency of occurrence of those side effects in pill taking women. Every medication has a long list of potential side effects.

opinion guy

Sue Ellen Ewing wrote: »

If a woman could not take the 'normal' oral contraceptive pill then other options of hormonal would be tried first before imposing a 'blanket ban' on hormonal contraception. Some women who cannot take contraceptive pills orally actually get on very well with localised methods of contraception such as the Mirena IUS/IUD etc.

Are you a doctor al lof a sudden ? Look I'm aware there are alternatives - its a hypothetical scenario designed to make men think.

I don't know how comfortable I would feel with a man being the main person responsible for contraception in the relationship. If it fails well then I'm still the one who gets pregnant and has to deal with pregnancy, and he still has the option of taking to the hills if he wishes. I think most women like the control that looking after their own contraception affords; especially if they really don't want to get pregnant.

This is why I said in the scenario that they guy would stand by the pregnancy and the GF was opposed to abortion.

Plus given the 'manflu' phenomenon I shudder to think how the average male would deal with the typical side effects associated with the pill which a vast number of women experience and see as the norm.

Please. If you want to patronise people go to AH.

I think I'd actually prefer to rely on the 'rhythm method' than rely on a man to take a pill tbh; I really can't see most men I know being massively good at taking something like a male contraceptive pill.

This is just insulting. And besides. Men trust women to take it when men have less control over what happens in the event of pregnancy - whats makes you think women are any less likely not to take it than men ?

Herbal Deity wrote: »

I think you overestimate the severity and frequency of occurrence of those side effects in pill taking women. Every medication has a long list of potential side effects.

You need to speak to more women about this. This is kind of why I started this thread. I don't think men know the effects that it has.

Herbal Deity

opinion guy wrote: »

You need to speak to more women about this. This is kind of why I started this thread. I don't think men know the effects that it has.

meh, there's a huge amount of scaremongering when it comes to certain medications or drugs. I'm not denying for a second that the side effects don't exist for some, but nothing I have heard suggests that the majority of women experience such side effects to any degree of severity.

My gf has nothing but good things to say about the pill.

opinion guy

Herbal Deity wrote: »

meh, there's a huge amount of scaremongering when it comes to certain medications or drugs. I'm not denying for a second that the side effects don't exist for some, but nothing I have heard suggests that the majority of women experience such side effects to any degree of severity.

My gf has nothing but good things to say about the pill.

Fair enough. I'm trying to find data at the moment on what the side-effect rates are so that we might all be more subjective here - myself included. I'll post back when I find something.

Madame Razz

opinion guy wrote: »

Are you a doctor al lof a sudden ? Look I'm aware there are alternatives - its a hypothetical scenario designed to make men think.

Well it's a hypothetical scenario with a whole lot of holes in if you don't mind me saying

This is why I said in the scenario that they guy would stand by the pregnancy and the GF was opposed to abortion.

This isn't always the reality though.

Please. If you want to patronise people go to AH

:rolleyes:

This is just insulting. And besides. Men trust women to take it when men have less control over what happens in the event of pregnancy - whats makes you think women are any less likely not to take it than men ?

eh, the fact that they have a lot more to lose as they are the ones to get pregnant perhaps???!!!

You need to speak to more women about this. This is kind of why I started this thread. I don't think men know the effects that it has.

With respect, I really think you're blowing the whole 'side-effects of the pill' scenario a bit out of proportion tbh. *Most* pills aren't so bad with *most* women; they wouldn't be licensed otherwise. Some pills will cause problems of course; but *real* problems usually are severe and noticeable and the woman experiencing these things will flag them to their doctor as they would any other adverse reaction to any other sort of medication and generally they will be taken off said problem pill pretty quickly and given and alternative which most of the time turns out to be a lot more successful.

Herbal Deity

Sue Ellen, your post was extremely belittling of men's attitudes towards contraception and towards their partners.

No reasonable man would run to the hills if their partner got pregnant. Your insinuation that men would do this without a second thought is disgusting.

Mrmoe

I don't think I would take the male contraceptive pill. Wearing a condom wouldn't be an issue and if on the off chance my gf did get pregnat it wouldn't be the end of the world either. Rearing a child does not mean that your life must come to a stand still. I guess that a fairly large proprtion of women take hormonal contraceptives, I can undertstand aspects of why they do but it wouldn't be for me.

Madame Razz

Herbal Deity wrote: »

Sue Ellen, your post was extremely belittling of men's attitudes towards contraception and towards their partners.

No reasonable man would run to the hills if their partner got pregnant. Your insinuation that men would do this without a second thought is disgusting.

No, no reasonable man would; but unfortunately many men do. And plenty of those many men do do it without a second thought.

I don't mean to belittle any man's attitude towards contraception but even on this thread alone can be seen the lack of knowledge about contraception on the mans part.

And I don't mean to offend anybody on here by saying this; it might not be applicable to the gentlemen of this forum; but a high proportion of men; as long as they are getting their end away; aren't all that bothered about contraception on their part or that of their partners. They either take it for granted that the woman will sort it out or they just don't care.

That is the reality; just like the lax attitude towards STI's and unprotected sex in this country.

seanybiker

Id take the pill. Take enough tablets with side effects already, one more is hardly going to kill me.

Herbal Deity

Not derailing this thread by arguing.

This thread is about male attitudes towards taking a contraceptive pill, not generalising and making negative insinuations about "a high proportion of men", let alone doing so without anything to back it up

Morgase

I'd applaud any man who would take it. I really don't think most men do understand the negative effects the pill has on a lot of women (myself included). A boyfriend who would be willing to take on some of that instead of me having to do it; well that would be major brownie points!

It would also be great reassurance for men who aren't in a steady relationship. If they had hormonal contraception as well as using condoms when with a random girl, they would have that extra layer of reassurance.

Nevyn

With in my socail cirlces most men I know would have expressed that they wish there was more contraceptive options for them so that they could take control of thier own fertility.
Currently there is only condoms and the snip which is seen as the extremes.

That being said the side effects of the male contaceptive pill which was in testing would have put most of them off.

Khannie

Sue Ellen Ewing wrote: »

No, no reasonable man would; but unfortunately many men do. And plenty of those many men do do it without a second thought.

Many women are criminals!!!!! They actually have female prisons there are so many!! I hear plenty of those many women do these crimes without a second thought!

Sue Ellen Ewing wrote: »

I don't mean to belittle any man's attitude towards contraception

Seriously? Then stop doing it.

Sue Ellen Ewing wrote: »

And I don't mean to offend anybody on here by saying this; it might not be applicable to the gentlemen of this forum; but a high proportion of men; as long as they are getting their end away; aren't all that bothered about contraception on their part or that of their partners. They either take it for granted that the woman will sort it out or they just don't care.

Ridiculous generalisation.

XxMCRxBabyxX

Sue Ellen Ewing wrote: »

but a high proportion of men; as long as they are getting their end away; aren't all that bothered about contraception on their part or that of their partners. They either take it for granted that the woman will sort it out or they just don't care.

That is the reality; just like the lax attitude towards STI's and unprotected sex in this country.

Can only speak for most of the guys I know, mostly young 18 - 20 year old college students. But every single one of them are pretty bothered about contraception and being careful. My boyfriend included, even though he knows I'm on the Pill he's never taken it for granted that we'll be fine and uses condoms as well just in case. And I never needed to insist on that, it was all up to him. (Although I would've insisted if he had taken any other attitude!)

Will

Sue Ellen Ewing wrote: »

No, no reasonable man would; but unfortunately many men do. And plenty of those many men do do it without a second thought.

I don't mean to belittle any man's attitude towards contraception but even on this thread alone can be seen the lack of knowledge about contraception on the mans part.

And I don't mean to offend anybody on here by saying this; it might not be applicable to the gentlemen of this forum; but a high proportion of men; as long as they are getting their end away; aren't all that bothered about contraception on their part or that of their partners. They either take it for granted that the woman will sort it out or they just don't care.

That is the reality; just like the lax attitude towards STI's and unprotected sex in this country.

Despite your best efforts your posts have offended quite a few people here on the forum, myself included.

To say that men aren't interested as long as they're 'getting their end away' is a very disturbing and more importantly a wrong assumption to make. We are not just after sex, we do have feelings and I would like to think those who call themselves 'men' wouldn't do a runner if their partner got pregnant.

Khannie

Will wrote: »

We are not just after sex.

speak for yourself there bud.



I kid! I kid!

Herbal Deity

Thaedydal wrote: »

That being said the side effects of the male contaceptive pill which was in testing would have put most of them off.

Really?

What were the side effects and were they necessarily going to manifest themselves with a notable degree of severity in the majority of male users?

To anyone who wouldn't take it - would you at least try it for a couple of months to see if it had any negative effects on you?

Tbqh, I'd be far too curious not to try it

Nevyn

http://www.askmen.com/dating/dzimmer_60/72_love_answers.html

A larger study, involving 120 men between the ages of 18 and 45 from Europe and the United States, is currently underway. The participants have tiny rods implanted under the skin of their arm that deliver a form of progestogen (commonly found in the female birth control pill) to block sperm production.

In order to maintain their sex drive and their "male characteristics," the men receive testosterone replacement therapy injections every four to six weeks over the course of the yearlong study. The results should be available by the end of 2002.


How does it work?
The pill contains desogestrel, a synthetic hormone that is the main component in the female pill, as well as the male hormone testosterone. This combination blocks the production of sperm while maintaining male characteristics and sex drive. As with the female contraceptive pill, it must be taken daily.

pwd

Thaedydal wrote: »

http://www.askmen.com/dating/dzimmer_60/72_love_answers.html

You see I'm vaguely horrified by that idea. I'm sure plenty of other guys would be very uncomfortable too.

Yet:

In clinical trials, no major side effects were noted aside from weight gain in a small percentage of men, similar to what most women experience when on the pill. But this pales in comparison to the more serious complications women expose themselves to when taking the pill, such as blood clotting, nausea, headaches, and dizziness

I don't think I'm wrong: I don't think most guys would genuinely be hunky dory with taking female hormones then injecting themselves with male hormones; even though it's apparently less harmful than the female equivalent.
And if I'm not wrong, there's a glaring double-standard when it comes to the level of acceptance of the female pill.

Daftendirekt

pwd wrote: »

You see I'm vaguely horrified by that idea. I'm sure plenty of other guys would be very uncomfortable too.

I don't think I'm wrong: I don't think most guys would genuinely be hunky dory with taking female hormones then injecting themselves with male hormones; even though it's apparently less harmful than the female equivalent.
And if I'm not wrong, there's a glaring double-standard when it comes to the level of acceptance of the female pill.

Actually, I find the idea kind of intriguing. The idea of having to take regular testosterone injections is a little unnerving, but really, why should it be? Women have been altering their body chemistry with the pill for years, this isn't really all that different. Added to that, (according to the link above) the male pill has minimal side effects compared to the female equivalent and a 100% success rate, this is something I'd seriously consider. For me anyway, the idea of impregnating my GF is far more horrific than the idea of having to top up my testosterone every so often.

That said, I wouldn't go near it until it's been well and truly tried and tested, and any hidden risks or long term side effects have been revealed

opinion guy

So I've been trying to find meaningful figures on side-effects but its surprisingly difficult. I've even looked at some of the pharmaceutical package inserts that you can get on the web (the side effects are done by categories - the highest being >1%. What the hell is greater than 1% that could be anything)

Anyhow I thought this passage from wikipedia gives you some idea I guess:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Combined_oral_contraceptive_pill#Side-effects

Side-effects Different sources note different incidences of side-effects. The most common side-effect is breakthrough bleeding. A University of New Mexico Student Health Center webpage says the majority (about 60%) of women report no side effects at all, and the vast majority of those who do, have only minor effects. A 1992 French review article said that as many as 50% of new first-time users discontinue the Pill before the end of the first year because of nuisance bleeding irregularity side effects such as breakthrough bleeding and amenorrhea.[66]

If anyone has more authoritative data do please post it.


Mods any chance to get the poll working ?

vicecreamsundae

As a female, I don't really suffer any negative side effects with my pill and am very happy with it. i'd be in support of a partner taking the male pill, although i would still continue to take mine, as i wouldn't like to trust anyone else -male or female- with my contraception.

as for male opinion, i've only talked about it recently to one guy and he wouldn't take a male pill, as he didn't seem to care too much for the female pill -didn't see the merit in "stuffing yourself full of hormones just so you can get laid". a rhythm method fan apparently.

Mackman

Id take it, no problem. And if there were side effects that were hard to live with, id quit it. I would expect my OH to do the same. She's on the pill and has no side effects luckily.
An ex of mine went on the pill, and it drove her completely bonkers!! Mood swings, spontaneuos crying, it wasnt long before i insisted that she stop taking it. Not just for me putting up with the crazies, but for her going through it. So we just went back to condoms.




(whats "rhythm method"?):o
Edit: Nevermind

Herbal Deity

pwd wrote: »

You see I'm vaguely horrified by that idea

Why?

pwd wrote: »

I don't think most guys would genuinely be hunky dory with taking female hormones then injecting themselves with male hormones;

Daftendirekt wrote: »

The idea of having to take regular testosterone injections is a little unnerving,

Guys, read the article properly. There would be no need to take a regular testosterone injection with the male pill, that only applies to the underarm implant.

Madame Razz

Can men be trusted to take the contraceptive pill???

ScienceDaily (Jan. 29, 2010) — Would you trust men to take a 'male pill'? That's the question posed to 380 people in North East England by a team from Teesside University which questioned people about the male contraceptive pill currently undergoing trials.

The research led by Judith Eberhardt, from the University's Social Futures Institute, involved interviews with 140 men and 240 women and cast doubt on whether Northern men can be trusted to take it.
The findings showed that while men said they would welcome it, women thought their partners could not be trusted to take the contraceptive pill regularly, leading to unplanned pregnancy.
"There's been some work into the male pill, mainly in the US and Australia," said Eberhardt. "But nothing it seems has been done in the North East, which is perceived to be a male-dominated society.
"Men in the North don't go to the doctors very often and we wanted to see if that approach to health care would influence their attitudes to the male pill. Past research has shown a link between health awareness and attitudes towards the male pill.
"There were three findings to our research. Firstly, both men and women had a positive attitude towards the male pill and thought it was a good idea.
"Secondly, women were more positive than men, but women didn't trust men to remember to take the pill every day. This means that pharmaceutical companies need to look at developing options such as a monthly injection or an implant that could last three years.
"And finally, men in a stable sexual relationship had a better opinion of the male pill than men in casual sexual relationships."
Writing in the Journal of Family Planning and Reproductive Health Care, Eberhardt said, "Once the male pill is widely available, promotional campaigns could target not only men but also their female partners, as women tend to come into contact with health services more frequently."

Above was the most recent relevant study I could find for this thread; which had some interesting findings. Being a study of English men probably makes it even more relevant really.

With regard to side effects, Side effects of medications are usually graded in terms of common(>1/100), Uncommon(<1/100>1/1000), and rare(<1/1000). In terms of the pill most side effects are regarded as rare or uncommon(weight gain for example is actually regarded as uncommon). Common side effects of most pills include Nausea, headache, and menstrual disorders or spotting. Serious Adverse reactions/effects are always listed and regarded seperately; these are reactions to a drug that may result in either Death, are Life-Threatening, result in Hospitalization (initial or prolonged), or Disability(significant, persistent, or permanent change, impairment, damage or disruption in the patient's body function/structure, physical activities or quality of life), lead to Congenital Anomaly or require Intervention to Prevent Permanent Impairment or Damage. In relative terms 'The pill' has a pretty average Adverse reaction profile.

It is important also to note that there are now four generations of pill available for women, and each generation of pill has slightly differing levels of side effects/serious adverse reactions due to different forms of it's constituents. In fact there is probably more concern over fourth generation pills than there is the older type pills as their side effect/adverse event profile is slightly greater for a number of reasons.

I didn't mean to offend anybody with my comments yesterday; however I do feel that most women would rather be in control of their contraception themselves as the consequences are much greater for them in the event of contraception failure. And yes, lots of men stand by their partners in the event of unplanned pregnancy and/or support their resulting child/children but plenty don't too, and no I don't have facts and figures to back that up but in a previous job of mine I had cause to see a lot of women who were deserted by their partners because of an unplanned pregnancy(and got/get little or no support for the child from said partner) and it is more prevalent than you might think; scarily so in fact; and can happen even in the most unlikely of situations.

Someday soon we will have a male pill, and I welcome that; as I do any other advancement in medication; as choice is always good, particularly in the area of contraception. I do still feel that a lot of women will still opt to protect themselves though, even when it does become available.

Herbal Deity

While we do welcome female participants here, this forum isn't for discussion of women's opinions and this thread isn't about female attitudes to the pill or a potential male pill, it's called Male attitudes to the pill.

Nevyn

I know most women would prefer to be in control of thier fertility it's just that in my experence most men would like to be in control of thier fertility too, rather then having to rely on the woman they are having sex with.

sam34

Herbal Deity wrote: »

While we do welcome female participants here, this forum isn't for discussion of women's opinions and this thread isn't about female attitudes to the pill or a potential male pill, it's called Male attitudes to the pill.

please leave modding to the mods

minidazzler

If there was a catchall male pill, yeah I'd take it. And if the side effects weren't too severe, I would continue taking it.

I would not however, like to have to get injections every few weeks for it! I would prefer a catch all scenario to be honest.

That said, I would probably still use condoms, I am quite a paranoid person like that!

opinion guy

minidazzler wrote: »

If there was a catchall male pill, yeah I'd take it. And if the side effects weren't too severe, I would continue taking it.

I would not however, like to have to get injections every few weeks for it! I would prefer a catch all scenario to be honest.

That said, I would probably still use condoms, I am quite a paranoid person like that!

Its not paranoia when there's millions out to get ya! :pac::pac:

Fukuyama

This thread was spawned from the thread I created the other day and the same people seem to be responding to it with the same sentiments ...

It's a pill. It either suits you or it doesnt. Coincidently the cover story of TIME this week is about the 50th anniversary of the pill and one of their executive editors wrote it - a woman. She detailed how it played an important part in WOmens Lib so it's kind of shocking to hear people (especially women) slating anybody for suggesting its use.

Bottle_of_Smoke

Lots of women don't get negative effects from the pill. Its commonly used to reduce period pain and improve period regularity.

So if there was a male equivelent with similar chances of negative side effects I'd give it a go. If I wasn't happy with my mood after I'd stop and go back to condoms.

redfacedbear

In the given senario I would definately give the male pill a go. While it's anecdotal and a very small sample The pill taking women I've known have had a uniformly positive experience of it - none have experienced any of the listed side-effects to any great degree. Assuming the hypothetical male pill was similarly trouble free, I'd probably take it regardless of what other contraception choices we made - if it didn't work out well for me I'd just come off it.

opinion guy

Dean0088 wrote: »

This thread was spawned from the thread I created the other day and the same people seem to be responding to it with the same sentiments ...

It's a pill. It either suits you or it doesnt. Coincidently the cover story of TIME this week is about the 50th anniversary of the pill and one of their executive editors wrote it - a woman. She detailed how it played an important part in WOmens Lib so it's kind of shocking to hear people (especially women) slating anybody for suggesting its use.

No-one is slating anyone for suggesting its use.

redfacedbear wrote: »

In the given senario I would definately give the male pill a go. While it's anecdotal and a very small sample The pill taking women I've known have had a uniformly positive experience of it - none have experienced any of the listed side-effects to any great degree. Assuming the hypothetical male pill was similarly trouble free, I'd probably take it regardless of what other contraception choices we made - if it didn't work out well for me I'd just come off it.

I gave a link to wiki article on ocp above with quote on side-effects.

i still don't think people are getting the point of this thread. No-one is here to say the pill is bad. Its to try to get men to think about what it would be like to take a pill with common side-effects.

redfacedbear

opinion guy wrote: »

I gave a link to wiki article on ocp above with quote on side-effects.

i still don't think people are getting the point of this thread. No-one is here to say the pill is bad. Its to try to get men to think about what it would be like to take a pill with common side-effects.

I have in the past had to take medication with some heavy duty side-effects (corticosteroids for nasty hayfever). There comes a point where the risk/reward equation falls that way. I'm well aware of the potential problems with the contraceptive pill.

If I was in the scenario you've given (where the male pill is equivalent to the female pill in the likely side-effects and I assume equal likelihood of suffering from those side-effects) I think that the risk (ie the potential side effects) would be far outweighed by the rewards (no babies) for me not to at least try the pill in question.

Bottle_of_Smoke

opinion guy wrote: »

i still don't think people are getting the point of this thread. No-one is here to say the pill is bad. Its to try to get men to think about what it would be like to take a pill with common side-effects.

*Potential side effects*

No reasonable person would expect a woman to take the contraceptive pill if it was causing her problems she didn't want to deal with.

XxMCRxBabyxX

Bottle_of_Smoke wrote: »

*Potential side effects*

No reasonable person would expect a woman to take the contraceptive pill if it was causing her problems she didn't want to deal with.

I do personally think the side effects of the pill are being far too exaggerated here. Every medication that one can take has side effects. Most of the side effects that occur in the pill are rare enough. I know that most of the girls that i know who are on the Pill haven't had too many issues or bad side effects. I certainly haven't

opinion guy

redfacedbear wrote: »

I have in the past had to take medication with some heavy duty side-effects (corticosteroids for nasty hayfever). There comes a point where the risk/reward equation falls that way. I'm well aware of the potential problems with the contraceptive pill.

Yeah i'm glad you said that. I too have beenon long term pills with side-effects and I agree you get sick of it after a while. but its something I think few people, especially young people understand.

Bottle_of_Smoke wrote: »

*Potential side effects*

No reasonable person would expect a woman to take the contraceptive pill if it was causing her problems she didn't want to deal with.

Absolutely. we're not talking about that. We're asking men would they take the pill with the same side-effects.

XxMCRxBabyxX wrote: »

I do personally think the side effects of the pill are being far too exaggerated here. Every medication that one can take has side effects. Most of the side effects that occur in the pill are rare enough. I know that most of the girls that i know who are on the Pill haven't had too many issues or bad side effects. I certainly haven't

Ok. Please point out where exactly the side-effects have been exaggerated. The list of sideeffects I gave came form the British National Formulary:
http://bnf.org/bnf/

The figures were from wiki but referenced to journal articles. Good for most of the girls you know. More power too that. Its great when there are no side-effects. Stats are stats however.

XxMCRxBabyxX

opinion guy wrote: »

Ok. Please point out where exactly the side-effects have been exaggerated. The list of sideeffects I gave came form the British National Formulary:
http://bnf.org/bnf/

The figures were from wiki but referenced to journal articles. Good for most of the girls you know. More power too that. Its great when there are no side-effects. Stats are stats however.

I mean that you are concentrating on the fact that the Pill has all these side effects too much as if every woman who takes the Pill gets them. I didn't mean to offend!

I am well aware that there are side effects with the Pill, as with any medication, but you seem to be giving the impression that this would be such a deterrent for men taking the Pill. Surely if it's such a risk much less women would be on the Pill than are today?

Why so much emphasis on side effects is my basic argument?

opinion guy

XxMCRxBabyxX wrote: »

I mean that you are concentrating on the fact that the Pill has all these side effects too much as if every woman who takes the Pill gets them. I didn't mean to offend!

I am well aware that there are side effects with the Pill, as with any medication, but you seem to be giving the impression that this would be such a deterrent for men taking the Pill. Surely if it's such a risk much less women would be on the Pill than are today?

Why so much emphasis on side effects is my basic argument?

No offence took. I'm just getting frustrated with people misinterpretating the thread.

I'm simply interested, giving the side-effects, would men take the pill. I'm interested because on another thread it seemed like a male poster expected his girlfriend to take the pill (as it turns out he didn't and I had misinterpreted what he said....but he should be more clear in future:p). Nevertheless, I think its safe to say the some men out there would expect their girlfriends/wives to take the pill. But since, for some reason girls talk to me about these things, and these girls have told me tales of side-effects, I think men, generally are ignorant of how it affects women.

Therefore, I'm interested would men put up with the same side-effects in order to get their rocks off ? Or more interestingly would they put up with these side-effects because their partner wanted them too instead of using condoms (this being the reason why many men want their girlfriends to use the pill).

XxMCRxBabyxX

bluewolf wrote: »

I'm starting to wonder does nobody use both

I know my boyfriend and i do!

opinion guy

bluewolf wrote: »

I'm starting to wonder does nobody use both

Of course people do. Other people don't.

Bottle_of_Smoke

opinion guy wrote: »

No offence took. I'm just getting frustrated with people misinterpretating the thread.

I'm simply interested, giving the side-effects, would men take the pill. I'm interested because on another thread it seemed like a male poster expected his girlfriend to take the pill (as it turns out he didn't and I had misinterpreted what he said....but he should be more clear in future:p). Nevertheless, I think its safe to say the some men out there would expect their girlfriends/wives to take the pill. But since, for some reason girls talk to me about these things, and these girls have told me tales of side-effects, I think men, generally are ignorant of how it affects women.

Therefore, I'm interested would men put up with the same side-effects in order to get their rocks off ? Or more interestingly would they put up with these side-effects because their partner wanted them too instead of using condoms (this being the reason why many men want their girlfriends to use the pill).

Ok you should have made that clear. The first post came across as if you thought all women who take the pill get all those side effects.

Perhaps the question should have been: "If there was a male pill and it gave *you* the following side effects.... would you take it?"

opinion guy

Bottle_of_Smoke wrote: »

Ok you should have made that clear. The first post came across as if you thought all women who take the pill get all those side effects.

Perhaps the question should have been: "If there was a male pill and it gave *you* the following side effects.... would you take it?"

That is what the question is.

bluewolf wrote: »

Well it's just your posts and posts I've seen elsewhere seem to assume that it's pill OR condoms, when I'd assume both for safety
ah well a discussion for another day

I never said it was one or the other. In fact if you trawl my older post you'll see me adivsing both. Mind your assumptions


I never said anything about everyone getting side effects. I'm getting really fed-up of correcting people who haven't either read the thread, or are too busy projecting their own assumptions about things I didn't say.

XxMCRxBabyxX

opinion guy wrote: »

I never said anything about everyone getting side effects. I'm getting really fed-up of correcting people who haven't either read the thread, or are too busy projecting their own assumptions about things I didn't say.

I've been following this thread from the first post and that is eaxactly the impression you gave me, thus my last post, so don't blame everyone else

opinion guy

XxMCRxBabyxX wrote: »

I've been following this thread from the first post and that is eaxactly the impression you gave me, thus my last post, so don't blame everyone else

Jesus Christ. I'm really getting sickof people putting words in my mouth because of their own comprehension failures. The ONLY place I gave figures was in this quote:

opinion guy wrote: »

So I've been trying to find meaningful figures on side-effects but its surprisingly difficult. I've even looked at some of the pharmaceutical package inserts that you can get on the web (the side effects are done by categories - the highest being >1%. What the hell is greater than 1% that could be anything)

Anyhow I thought this passage from wikipedia gives you some idea I guess:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Combined_oral_contraceptive_pill#Side-effects

Side-effects Different sources note different incidences of side-effects. The most common side-effect is breakthrough bleeding. A University of New Mexico Student Health Center webpage says the majority (about 60%) of women report no side effects at all, and the vast majority of those who do, have only minor effects. A 1992 French review article said that as many as 50% of new first-time users discontinue the Pill before the end of the first year because of nuisance bleeding irregularity side effects such as breakthrough bleeding and amenorrhea.[66]

If anyone has more authoritative data do please post it.


Mods any chance to get the poll working ?

Firstly: Really where do you get ALL from that ??? SERIOUSLY.
Secondly: I've given the sources for the data. If you disagree go read it up. Don't put presumptious statements in my mouth


I've asked the mods to close the thread since its too many people are misinterpreting it and its become too much trouble

XxMCRxBabyxX

opinion guy wrote: »

Jesus Christ. I'm really getting sickof people putting words in my mouth because of their own comprehension failures. The ONLY place I gave figures was in this quote:




Firstly: Really where do you get ALL from that ??? SERIOUSLY.
Secondly: I've given the sources for the data. If you disagree go read it up. Don't put presumptious statements in my mouth


I've asked the mods to close the thread since its too many people are misinterpreting it and its become too much trouble

Would you calm down?! And no need for the comprehension failure accusations, it could just be your own fault in not wording things right! No one was rude to you so no need for you to be rude

I'm not talking about figures! I'm talking about the impression you gave that the side effects affected anyone who took the Pill.

And at that i'm giving up because you are one of those I'm always right people who don't ever give up even when they should.