Two weeks ago, The Cavalier Daily reported University researchers are working to develop a contraceptive drug for men at the Center for Research in Contraceptive and Reproductive Health. Researchers have identified proteins unique to the process of spermatogenesis -- the production of sperm -- that potentially could be targeted by a contraceptive. Although this is only one step in a long-term project, men in the future may have the option to take a "man pill" to prevent partners' unwanted pregnancy.
As the development of such a contraceptive is still underway, it is not yet known whether any health complications -- for example, impotence -- could result. What can be debated currently, however, are the possible moral ramifications of a "man pill." Assuming male contraceptives are found to be safe and are made generally available by prescription, just as oral contraceptives currently are for women, one could ask how this would affect moral choices and gender roles.
Some are quick to point out that a new form of contraception will encourage promiscuous, morally reckless behavior, and add that male contraceptives will only tempt us with another loophole in society's moral fabric. This claim seems a little alarmist; I'm sure someone who chooses, for whatever personal reason, not to have sex will not be tempted by the prospect of a male "pill" when he or she was not tempted by women's birth control pills, the condom, diaphragm or any other currently available form of contraception.
More realistically, a widely available male contraceptive will be used by the same kind of people who use the currently available pill for women: sexually active couples looking for peace of mind by using the most assured means of avoiding pregnancy.
Many couples -- and more accurately, women --try to be responsible by willingly sacrificing money and risking a little embarrassment to ask their doctors for a birth control prescription. For couples like these, a contraceptive for men could present an opportunity for increased sexual equality: Both parties could agree to subject their bodies to chemicals that alter their bodies' natural processes in a joint effort to make their sexual decisions more responsible.
At present, it seems as though the burden of preventing pregnancy weighs more heavily on women; most trusted forms of contraceptive involve chemical changes to a woman's body or invasive procedures. And, unfortunately, condoms are still treated with a great deal of suspicion, as they are often considered not effective enough to guarantee prevention of pregnancy. The production of an affordable, accessible male contraceptive could (God help me, no pun intended) help to level the playing field.
Men are then faced with a tough question: If a "man pill" is produced, are men morally compelled to take it? If we have asked the women in our lives to do so, by appealing to the peace of mind it affords everyone involved, it appears that we have no choice. There seems to be something fundamentally wrong with asking our partners to do something that we wouldn't ourselves do.
I've been told that pregnancy is ultimately a responsibility that a woman bears, no matter what the well-intentioned partner attempts to do. This subject is up for debate, and out of the scope of this column, but this idea places a huge onus on women and makes a guy feel really helpless in these life-altering situations. Perhaps, then, the advent of a male contraceptive can help men take a more active role in preventing pregnancy, giving them greater peace of mind, and taking some of the weight off their partners' shoulders.
We have no way of knowing now whether the University's researchers will be able to produce an effective, safe and broadly available male contraceptive. Any new development in contraception for men, however, should make us re-evaluate our gender roles, especially in regard to responsible sexual relationships.
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