For years the excepted method ofbirth control for men was the condom, but with a reported failure rate of 14percent researchers having been looking for an alternative.
The Manchester Pill or male birthcontrol pill hopes to offer men a more effective tool. With 66 percent of both women and mensaying that men should play a bigger role in the choice and use ofcontraception teams of scientists around the world have been testing variousformulas.
Early on testers had a problem withbalancing the decrease in sperm production and retaining a healthy libido. Researchers tried a combination ofcyproterone acetate and testosterone undecanoate, which had side effects that includedprostate cancer.
When a new pill was developed thatcombined desogestrel a synthetic hormone found in female birth control withtestosterone replacement the occurrence of prostate cancer was eliminated. Other side effects include acne, moodswings, increased appetite, elevated blood pressure and weight gain.
In lab tests the pill was found tobe nearly 100 percent effective and early test in Africa have encouragedpharmaceutical companies.
Organon hopes to make their pillavailable in 2005. ” I wouldn’t take it, I don’t like the fact that you haveall those side effects” said Kyle Perrilloux, a political science major fromBaton Rouge. Scientists are tryingto perfect the pill and make it a safe alternative to condoms and surgicalprocedures.
Men and women have equalresponsibility in preventing pregnancy, ” It takes both men and women to make ababy so the both should take steps to be safe” said Alicia Shine, a juniorbusiness management major from Shreveport.
Soon both men and women will be ableto pick birth control up at the pharmacy.
