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Male Birth Control Shot Found Effective (bbc.com)

Posted by EditorDavid on from the I'm-on-the-shot dept.

An anonymous reader quotes the BBC: A hormone injection has been shown to be a safe and effective method of contraception -- for men. U.S. researchers say the jab was almost 96% effective in tests on around 270 men who were using it, with four pregnancies among their partners. However, a relatively high number developed side effects, including acne and mood disorders... Because men constantly produce sperm, high levels of hormones are needed to reduce levels from the normal sperm count of over 15 million per milliliter to under one million/ml.
One professor pointed out that despite the side effects, "75% of the men who took part in the trial would be willing to use this method of contraception again."

7 of 372 comments (clear)

  1. Going by the data in the summary... by gTsiros · · Score: 5, Insightful

    and taking into account the risks (unwanted pregnancy) i'd say 96% effectiveness is really, really horrible.

    Unless i'm mistaken in my interpretation of statistics, this is a complete failure. In this case, i'd like to know the chance that intercourse will lead to pregnangy, using this method (and only this method)

    --
    Looking for people to chat about multicopters, coding, music. skype: gtsiros
    1. Re:Going by the data in the summary... by geekmux · · Score: 4, Insightful

      It depends... What is the effectiveness of the competing methods?

      Based on the summary, I'd say that despite the side effects, at least 75% of men hate condoms enough to put up with the side effects and the reduced effectiveness.

      So, the real question is...What is the difference in the sexual experience when using competing methods?

      Men have been waiting for quite a long time to lose the latex that has been identified as a rather unfair sexual damper. For anyone who has used condoms, it's rather obvious just how much it reduces sexual pleasure, regardless of technological advances which are often nothing more than sales gimmicks.

    2. Re:Going by the data in the summary... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

      The problem with the abstinence argument is that it misses the point.

      What is the safest way to cross the street?
      You can do it at a designated crosswalk and look both ways before crossing, but it isn't 100% safe.
      The safest way is to not cross the street.
      The problem with the not crossing option is that you don't end up on the other side.

      In the same way the easiest way to cook dinner is to not cook dinner.

      People arguing for abstinence appears to have jumped into the second part of the discussion.
      The first part was that people want to have sex. The second part was how to avoid having children while having sex.
      Abstinence doesn't address the first part and isn't a viable solution.
      Young people are going to have sex no matter how much you argue for abstinence.
      That is why the rate of teen pregnancies are the highest in areas where abstinence is preached the most.

    3. Re:Going by the data in the summary... by brantondaveperson · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Humans have bodies, a physical existence in the world. That physical existence has needs, such as food and water. We also need other things that you might identify as un-necassary, such as friendships, creative outlets, self-expression, talking, listening, tasting, being accepted for who we are, being forgiven our wrongdoings if we make amends, love, time to ourselves, time with others, etcetera etcetera. None of these things are needs. it's quite possible to be alive, and never experience any of those things. But a poor existence it would be. Sex is like those things, but it's even more. it's also a biological imperative, something our bodies are very much programmed to want very much indeed.

      Telling young people to just not do it will fail. Coupling that with also not telling them how to do it safely, is, and always has been, demonstrably disastrous.

    4. Re:Going by the data in the summary... by Ol+Olsoc · · Score: 5, Insightful

      "That is why the rate of teen pregnancies are the highest in areas where abstinence is preached the most."

      Which is beside the point.

      The too long didn't read version of your post is:

      Abstinence only education doesn't work, but you don't care.

      You and your 1.5 billion you've siphoned from the US guvmint have given the US the highest unwanted teen pregnancy rate in the developed world. And you don't care because somehow, it doesn't matter.

      Because we were sold the idea that Abstinence only works. And when it turns out it doesn't, you don't care. Just make up more crap like scabies. Yeah, scabies is a STD now?

      Because Abstinence only is a religion based social and personal control mechnanism that attempts to regulate one of the main drivers of survival.

      --
      The shepherds did so well protecting the flock that the sheep no longer believed that wolves existed.
  2. Re:Fag control shot by alvinrod · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Just because there may not be a genetic component to homosexuality doesn't mean that it isn't fixed or is somehow a choice. Neuroscientist, Simon LeVay found evidence for sexual orientation being connected to brain structure decades ago. It's entirely possible that homosexuality has nothing to do with genetics, but is rather the result of aberrations during fetal development that result these deviations from the norm.

    To claim that it's a choice though is just wrong. If you believe otherwise, ask yourself if you you could change your sexual orientation. Sure, you could probably have sex with someone outside of your preferred group, but you wouldn't be attracted to them or have any imperative desire to do so of your own natural volition.

  3. Re: Fag control shot by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I find that the most hostile gay bashers tend to be closeted homosexuals themselves.

    Instead of being angry at the mixed feelings you have, just be honest with yourself. Do you find yourself watching lots of sports involving sweaty men touching each other? Do you go to a gym and workout around other men? Do you only listen to songs sung or "rapped" by men? Are most or all of your friends men? Do you prefer the sight, sound or company of men? Do you like the cock?