Women have had enough of the pill. So why foist it on men? | Nichi Hodgson

With so many contraceptives and apps already available, the holy grail of reproductive healthcare may arrive too late

As scientific discoveries go, the male contraceptive pill has long been considered the unicorn of reproductive healthcare – much touted, but frustratingly elusive (in part, hindered by big pharma’s lack of desire to fund research). But on Sunday, Washington University scientists at the annual Endocrine conference ​hailed early trials which showed that a once-daily tablet that lowers sperm production seemed safe and effective in preventing pregnancy. The trouble is, in the time it’s taken to develop a male hormonal pill, attitudes to contraception, particularly among thirtysomethings, have moved on, with swathes of women abandoning the pill and hormonal coil for condoms or contraceptive apps. The future of reproductive health is part digital, part hi-tech latex, but not hormonal. Suddenly this much-longed-for solution may already be obsolete.

In the time it’s taken to develop a male hormonal pill, attitudes to contraception have moved on

Related: Male pill could be on horizon as trials yield positive results

Continue reading... March 19, 2018 at 11:40PM