Issue date: 3/29/07 Section: Editorial/Opinion

Forty years ago, women were given the option to have more control over whether or not they would get pregnant. Enter the birth control pill. Millions of women got excited in the 1960s, and the number of users has only increased since then.

The pill is safe, effective and puts more power into the hands of a woman since a condom isn't completely foolproof.

But what if men could start taking their own birth control pill, instead of using a condom? Researchers in Seattle have been working on the development of a male hormonal contraceptive. It works in a way similar to that of the female version we're familiar with.

Every day you take the pill and your body stops producing sperm. If you choose to stop taking the pill, sperm production starts up again.

Side effects are minimal - headaches, weight gain and mild acne among them. The mood swings that are so commonly associated with women on the pill haven't appeared in any of the men currently testing their own pill.

In addition to the pill, there are several other methods of male birth control under development: a patch, a gel (applied to the skin), an injection given every three months or an implant placed under the skin once a year.

Obviously, you don't have as much control with something like an injection or an implant that you can't remove on your own (it has to be done by a doctor) but any of these methods are still going to be safer than a condom in preventing pregnancy. Unfortunately, neither male nor female hormonal contraception will prevent against sexually transmitted diseases.

The idea of taking a pill may make men slightly uncomfortable. I have no idea what it's like to be male, so I can't offer any personal input on the topic. But I can say that sex is still an option as it is now, and if taking the pill just doesn't work for you, it's easy to cease consumption. Even if your partner has to work hard to convince you it's a good idea, it's certainly worth a try.

Men like to feel in control. The pill equals power and freedom. Much more than a thin rubber covering offers.

Women fought for this pill because they wanted to take matters into their own hands. One small step for population control; one giant leap for feminism. This desire seems logical because it is; after all, the woman's body and life are being ultimately affected. Some men feel the pill should remain an option for women only. If women want to have sex, it's their job to provide the protection. I interpret this as being sexist. Men and women are supposed to be treated equally in this day and age.

So I disagree completely with the fact that protection and safe sex should be a concern of the woman only. Sex involves two people. So why wouldn't both people want to take as many safety precautions as possible? We fight so hard for equality; it only seems fair.

I understand the thought of swallowing hormones is a little scary. But so is the thought of a broken condom and an accidental pregnancy at 20 years old.

This pill is both a good idea and a humorous thought at the same time. I can imagine an intimate scenario between a man and woman about to have sex for the first time. She expresses a concern about the risk of becoming pregnant. In an attempt to be both comforting and seductive, he says, "Don't worry baby. I'm on the pill."

It sounds silly when compared to what we would most likely expect. But technology has evolved so much in our own lifetime, and will continue to evolve before we die. This imaginary scenario is not too far off. If research continues to go well, men could have this option in as little as five years.

Downes is a sophomore creative writing major and freelance writer for The Spectator.

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