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Male Birth Control Shot Found Effective (bbc.com)

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."

19 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 NormalVisual · · Score: 5, Funny

      *Posting AC for reasons I don't desire to get into.*

      Um, about that...

      --
      Please stand clear of the doors, por favor mantenganse alejado de las puertas
    2. 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.

    3. 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.

    4. 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.

    5. Re:Going by the data in the summary... by AmiMoJo · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Condoms aren't just for preventing pregnancy though, they prevent the spread of diseases. Even with a perfect contraceptive, you would still want to use a condom if you are not with a long term partner that you trust.

      I've found that the 0.01mm thick ones are much better than the standard ones, but cost a fair bit more. Even they are far inferior to not using one though. Condoms reduce feeling for women too, I think they are just more willing to accept that because the potential consequences are much more severe and there is less social stigma if they don't reach orgasm.

      --
      const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
      SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
    6. 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.
    7. Re:Going by the data in the summary... by PopeRatzo · · Score: 5, Funny

      For sensation, use lambskin.

      Or the whole lamb.

      --
      You are welcome on my lawn.
    8. Re:Going by the data in the summary... by wbr1 · · Score: 4, Funny

      I know a method that is at least 69% effective. In fact it is 100% effective if you stay in that position. The numbers trend downwards if you don't.

      --
      Silence is a state of mime.
  2. 96%!? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    That means I'd have 14 babies a year! Not effective at a!!

  3. Trail ended 1 suicide 1 attempted 8 left infertile by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    The Worlds press is carrying this story but almost all have missed that the trial has been stopped due to unnacceptable side-effects
    Of the 300+ patients,
    - 1 committed suicide
    - 1 attempted suicide
    - many being treated for clinical depression
    - 8 were left infertile a year after stopping the drug.

    75% may be willing to continue, but not at that cost

  4. Uhhh.. by Kokuyo · · Score: 4, Interesting

    So haven't we learned from the pill that fucking with a body's hormone levels has a certain tendency to lead to bad things and that it gets worse at higher levels?

    Is the intention here to hit equality by making men as miserable as women?

  5. Re:Vasectomy by carbs77 · · Score: 5, Informative

    I'm 39, had mine last year after having twins for a total of 4 kids. Local anaesthetics have little affect on me, so I chose to go under and was only out for 15-20 minutes and walked from recovery. Was no where near as bad as I expected and while there was a bit of pain it was mainly from the stitches. I was told it would feel like I was kicked in the nuts but it was nothing like that at all, a very mild discomfort apart from the stitches. If you are worried about it, don’t be, its a quick and relatively painless procedure.

  6. Re:Trail ended 1 suicide 1 attempted 8 left infert by Trachman · · Score: 4, Funny

    1 suicide within the trial? That is a success. 100% contraception success.
    This one will sure not be able to procreate anymore.

  7. Seems like posting as AC... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...has a 96% success rate.

  8. 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.

  9. Re:Finally! by tnok85 · · Score: 4, Funny

    His doctor gave it to him, he found it during his most recent prostate exam.

  10. 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?

  11. more like 100% affective by Charcharodon · · Score: 4, Funny

    Also discovered in the study that 4 women were cheating on their partners.