The earth’s population is set to reach a staggering seven billion people by the year 2012. Not surprisingly, a good majority of these pregnancies were unplanned. We live in an age with more male contraceptive options than ever before seen in human history. It is absolutely vital for a sexually active male to have a proper understanding of the effectiveness and application of these various contraceptive methods. The failure to do so often results in a pregnancy that one isn’t emotionally or financially prepared for.
The Pull Out Method: This technique is commonly used by inexperienced teenagers, and is widely believed to be a huge factor in the ever growing number of teenage pregnancies. The idea behind this method is simple; it assumes falsely that one can partake in unprotected sex and avoid pregnancy by merely pulling out before ejaculation. This kind of thinking requires a pension for risky behavior, but does it work? Obviously all unprotected sex can lead to an STD but what about pregnancy?
The common school of thought amongst reproductive health professionals is that pre-ejaculate still runs the risk of causing pregnancy. Another factor is issues with self control. Can a male in the heat of the moment really trust himself to pull out? Despite the common consensus being clear, there is controversial research that indicates withdrawal only has a four percent failure rate if done correctly. The research also indicates that the commonly held belief of mobile sperm occupying pre-ejaculate is false. This is according to two studies done by the National Institute of Health. While the jury may still be out on this one, be wise and use “pulling out” in only last resort situations.
Condoms: Whether one loves or hates them, very few will question the effectiveness of condoms in preventing both pregnancy and disease. Studies show that only two of every sexually active couples who use condoms on a regular basis experience an unwanted pregnancy. As far as male contraception is concerned, using a condom is the most effective method that doesn’t require expensive medical procedures. They also prove to be invaluable in preventing diseases such as HIV. Especially when engaging in sexual activity with a partner whose history is uncertain , a condom is the only genuinely safe option for male contraception.
Vasectomy: If one reaches the point in life where the desire for any new children has completely faded, modern medicine has the solution. This permanent method of birth control is the literal shutting down of the reproduction mechanics inside a man’s body. To achieve this requires a procedure by a well trained medical expert and is not to be taken lightly. A vasectomy requires the vas deferens to be cut, clamped, or sealed. This ensures that no sperm mixes with the semen that is ejaculated , often referred to as “shooting blanks“. The procedure takes roughly thirty minutes and should only be done by a trained medical professional. Be warned: one must wait several months after surgery before all the sperm is out of their system. Practice safe sex until semen sample shows a zero percent sperm count.
The above are the most commonly used male contraceptive methods. With the rapid acceleration of medical science, it is likely that the world is not too far off from seeing a male birth control pill. The demand is high and pharmaceutical companies are already pouring millions every year into research. Will science help ease overpopulation and decrease the number of unwanted children? Only time will tell