BIRTH CONTROL IS A WOMAN’S ISSUE, BUT IT SHOULDN’T BE

Over the past 60 years, 'the pill' remains one of the most common forms of contraception among women. When taken correctly it is 99 % effective. In addition to the pill, other effective forms of birth control include Implanon, Intrauterine Device (IUD), and contraceptive injections. All of these contraceptive devices have been created to serve the same purpose and all have been created for women.

Unfortunately, women also have to face a multitude of side effects when using these forms of contraception. Mood swings, depression, cramps, migraines, weight gain, nausea, the list goes on. According to Isabella, 22 years old: “I hate all of it, I can’t take the pill due to my medical history, I tried the Implanon but I suffered severe depression - along with other problems. The whole time I felt like my body wasn’t my own. It’s hard to be safe when my main options are to be miserable”.

Alternative forms of contraception that are much less reliable, but continue to gain popularity are the pull-out method and mobile apps formed to track ovulation cycles. The downside to these methods is accidental pregnancy, as the methods work only 75 % of the time, even when used correctly.

As effective as the condom is (98 % when used correctly), it stands as one of the least popular forms of contraception, with less feeling for men. It also prevents spontaneous intercourse (consensual of course). However, male contraception options don’t really exist outside of condoms, with vasectomies being invasive and usually only performed past a certain age or after a litter of kids have been birthed (this also applies to hysterectomies).

However, the lack of diversity in male contraceptives is not to say that the market for them do not exist. For instance, men have to trust that contraception on the woman’s part is being properly taken care of. If a woman is to fall pregnant, not only was the man not able to take control of his own body and prevent it in the first place, he is then not in a position to decide what happens after the conception. Ben, 26 years old, told me: “If the option was there I’d definitely try it, it would just work as some peace of mind, just to know that I have some semblance of control. Because when it comes to us, ethically, we don’t really have a say in any of it.” Ben 26 says. While we hope that men and women are making decisions together about whether to continue with, or terminate, an unplanned pregnancy, it is ultimately a woman’s decision.

Fortunately, there are currently multiple medical trials that are being tested to improve the quality of birth control for both men and woman. However, improved options won’t be available for many years to come. For instance, a recent study from 2015 announced that a new form of birth control was designed for men via eight-week injections. It was shown to have the same effective rate as the female pill. Unfortunately, the male pill displayed the same negative side-effects as the female pill. What resulted was the trial being terminated in late 2016, due to the negative side-effects outweighing the good for 25 % of the participants. While women also face side-effects with many forms of contraception, we at least have the option to change to something else if the side-effects prove to be unbearable. Men should at least have the same option.

All things considered, what we’re left with is outdated contraceptive options. Some women are forced to endure difficult side-effects or are faced with unplanned pregnancies. There needs to be a push for better options, where men too can share the joys of contraception and gain more control over when they choose as the right time to become a parent.

When it comes to the ethics behind pregnancy, it’s not fair for men not to have a say, when their only real option to protect themselves are condoms. We live in a world where we strive for equality, and at the very least, the choice of birth control should be equal. In the meantime, we should hope for types of birth control that hold minimal, to no, side-effects for both men and women, with the option to have a permanent solution for those who want it. It’s 2017, come on science!

Adriana is a communications student who hates both writing and birth control.