“Its not just a womans job.
Its both peoples responsibility to take precautions.”
(After the Roe news, there was aflurryofarticlesabout men rushing into urologists offices to get a vasectomy.
Scientists have been trying to develop amale version of the pill for decades, withmany startsandstopsalong the way.
Scientists are alsotesting a new contraceptive gelfor men, which decreases a mans sperm production.
Some men told us they were eager to share the burden of contraception with the women in their lives.
Some single men said they just want a say in their reproductive futures.
See what eight guys of various ages and experiences had to say below.
When we wanted to try for a baby, we stopped.
But I would try male birth control.
What if it was approved, but it had some unpleasant side effects?
All medications have side effects.
Is this the woman you want to be tied to for the rest of your lives?
If she gets pregnant, it takes two parents to raise a child.
If not, take a simple pill and use a condom as backup.
What are your thoughts on the idea that its a womans job to prevent pregnancy?
Its not just a womans job.
Its both peoples responsibility to take precautions.
All my past partners had to do was say wrap it up and I did.
The surgery and recovery was nothing.
I was back to working the next day.
She wouldnt have been able to.
Its not rocket science.
No one can question we want the sex much of the time.
Man up, guys.
Take control of your futures while having your fun.
I have three male children below 26 and they know how important this issue is to me.
Its the hardest decision Ive ever had to make, and a simple pill could have prevented it.
I feel like there are a lot of choices, but they all have some sort of drawback.
My partner and I have used condoms and female birth control, either the patch or the pill.
Currently condoms plus the pill.
In all honesty, how likely would you be to use hormonal birth control?
I have a terrible memory, I forget my pills all the time.
So if it was a pill, I wouldnt even bother.
This short clip sums up how I feel, about if menhad to take birth control pills.
But Im concerned with potential side effects.
I think that my younger self definitely grew up thinking contraception is the womans responsibility.
And for that reason I think male contraceptives will largely be a commercial failure when it comes to market.
Its clearly pretty weak.
With most of my partners, we relied on a combination of condoms or withdrawal coupled with the pill.
For me, it was simply deciding on which condom would perform the best.
Thats not really a fair trial process.
So I would be open to using male birth control because I simply want to prevent pregnancy.
If Im going to be completely honest, I want to get a vasectomy.
My partner and I are done having children.
However, if we werent in that stage, Id be on any approved male birth control pill.
Have you had any pregnancy scares through the years?
The next was in my early 30s with a partner that was showing signs of ending the relationship.
My ultimate concern was having a child and splitting time with it.
Im a child of divorce and know that has consequences.
What if male birth control was approved, but it had some unpleasant side effects?
Would you still be willing to take it?
I would certainly monitor the side effects, if any, and stop use if necessary.
It would be worth it.
How do you feel about birth control being framed as a womans issue?
Whatisntplaced on the woman?
Has the overturning of Roe v. Wade made you more inclined to think about this subject on the whole?
It hasnt made me think more about it, because Ive always thought about it.
I guess I always came from a perspective of, why dont they hand this out like candy?
Prescribed, of course, but for free and with a doctors supervision.
And why isnt there a pill for me?
What it makes me think about more is my children and what they may someday have to endure.
Its truly terrifying and nauseating.
What if there were side effects?
If the side effects are that unpleasant, I would explore other avenues, such as a vasectomy.
What do you think ofwomenvoicingconcernthat men might not take their birth control?
Has Roe v. Wades recent reversal impacted your feelings on any of this at all?
Its why Im pursuing a vasectomy.
Id be open to taking that if it was developed.
Darien, 32, Sydney, Australia
What have you used in the past?
Ive mostly relied on condoms or occasionally the female contraceptive pill.
How do you feel about potentially taking male birth control?
Have you always felt that way?
That was pretty self-centered, since I would be fine with a woman using the pill.
Now Im perfectly open to anything thats gone through adequate testing.
Id also be open to something like theVasalgelcontraceptive injection that Ive read about in the past.
How do you feel about that?
Its their body thats on the line if it doesnt work, especially in the U.S. at the moment.
As for it being womens responsibility, I wholeheartedly reject that, especially in a committed relationship.
The woman has the highest stakes in this arrangement and I have no idea how to balance that.
Im open for a number of reasons.
The main one being that sex is a two-way street.
I would double-check I brought enough for everyone Im bringing.
Do you think other guys would take it?
That said, it doesnt surprise me that most men are hesitant to use hormonal contraception.
Its literally something that men havent used before.
Or if it were nausea, I am happy to take Bonine or Tums to compensate.
I would imagine and hope more options, access and development is on the horizon.
I have had a pregnancy scare in my early 20s.
An ex told me she got pregnant after we broke up.
Initially she wanted to abort.
I said no, I would raise the kid.
She decided to keep the girl.
I had my doubts at birth and got a paternity test to find the child was not mine.
Why are leaning toward getting a vasectomy?
Id prefer having [a vasectomy] done over anything else.
I actually just had a consultation with a urologist last week to discuss a vasectomy.
My wife and I know kids are not something we want and we are both in our late 30s.
Perhaps if I were younger and not able to afford a vasectomy, I would use male birth control.
In a serious relationship both should share the burden.
There were a few close calls in at least two of past relationships where her menstrual cycle was late.
Taking male birth control is actually kind of romantic.
Whats more romantic than that?
What are your thoughts on contraception being framed as a womans issue?
Women are not getting pregnant like the Holy Virgin Mary.
Barring IVF and other methods, there is always a man involved.
And its his responsibility, too.
That should be a no-brainer, we shouldnt even discuss that.
Alas, the reality is different.
That just shows how long the way is we still have to go.
Has the overturning of Roe v. Wade made you more inclined to think about this subject on the whole?
Of course, though currently you see mostly women protesting against the decision you dont see that many men.
Unfortunately, the men who impregnated those women are out of the picture.This article originally appeared onHuffPost.
