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By: Harvey D. Ong

The issue of birth control is one that ought to be taken seriously by both male and female sides of the reproduction equation. However, leaning back a little and using an objective mind --- one can see that there is a gap in the solution. Most of the reversible options for contraception, both for blocking the flow of bodily fluids and via pharmaceutical means, are made for use on and by the female half of the equation. Where, one might be inclined to ask, are the male birth control options? Well, aside from the condom and vasectomy (the two most prominently known choices), there's very little in the way of male birth control.

That doesn't mean there isn't a lot going on in the field of research to find an effective, reversible form of male birth control. There are studies being conducted that go into the various arenas that female pharmaceutical contraception options have gone. This includes potential avenues such as altering the hormonal balance of the male, chemically inhibiting the release of sperm from the testes, and other theories that reflect birth control tactics used for females. However, at the moment, any true male birth control equivalent to “the pill” women use is elusive, with the prospects being grim and the pickings slim.

Researchers that are going into this field realize that males should share more of the responsibility in preventing unwanted pregnancies. The main male birth control options are both generally effective, but both pose a set of problems. First, condoms are not entirely effective, with only an estimated effectiveness of 80% at any given time. Another problem is that some cultures put negative implications on condom use, such that it is seen as a social and cultural taboo in some countries. Vasectomies, which can be even less acceptable than condoms in some cultures, are generally irreversible. This can be a problem for men who decide to later have children. The potential side effects to one's libido have also been brought to light in the past.

A male version of the “pill” is in the works, but it is likely a long way off from being commercially viable. Most research groups have stated that they have not gotten around to truly testing their current products on anything but mice. Reports are that most of them are waiting until they can draw up more consistent results before moving on to the next stage of the research. At the moment, the results are effective in preventing the release of the sperm cells in much the same way birth control pills are effective in preventing the egg cell from being released. However, there are still some issues to be addressed, such as the side effects.

Some have theorized that what makes it so difficult for science to develop male birth control options similar to “the pill” lies somewhere in the physiology and biochemistry of the male reproductive system. Some of the hormonal triggers that form the basis of the female pill's functions are not found in the male system, and if they are, they aren't in enough quantities. Understandably, introducing female hormones is a touchy subject for the typical male and any product that does this is not likely to be put to widespread use.

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Harvey Ong is a part-time writer and a part-time researcher. He is currently self-studying various Far Eastern languages and is an avid fiction reader. He is currently writing articles oriented towards consumers of pharmaceutical products,but has written about used car loans, gambling and casino strategies, and overseas travel in the past.href="http://www.drugstoretm.com">DrugstoreTM.com is a reputable online drug store. From sexual health to a woman's health, sleeping aids to weight loss pills, our online pharmacy offers convenient customer access to various health medicines, including an array of health product and medicare prescription drug. Buy Soma | Buy Tramadol

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