Relevant post: https://slrpnk.net/post/1480928

Also I ask that y’all refrain from downvoting opposing opinions in this thread. In this case, I think dialogue is more useful than downvotes.

  • Rachelhazideas@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    9
    ·
    1 year ago

    I just want to add to the conversation that part of the reason why male contraceptives haven’t been approved yet isn’t all because men are shying away from the burden of side effects from contraceptives. It’s because of how risk evaluations for medications in development work. The risk of pregnancy is severe pain, permanent scarring, death, and a myriad of post partum conditions that can become chronic. When women take contraceptives, they are averting themselves of this risk. When men take contraceptives, they are generally not averting themselves of any direct health risks (not including the consequences of fatherhood). It’s also easier to prevent the release of one egg with certainty than stopping millions of sperm.

    This is not to say that it’s a good reason to let women suffer from side effects alone and deny men the option to take on the burden. This is just one of many systemic barriers in modern medicine that have been detrimental to women.