Advertisement

What You Should Know About Male Contraception

What You Should Know About Male Contraception
What You Should Know About Male Contraception

Male contraception has been practiced for many years.

Although globally there are various methods to prevent birth that require the participation of men, in India there are predominantly three methods – withdrawal, use of condoms and vasectomy. This article will give you first-hand information on what all you need to know about male contraception.

Withdrawal

This, in theory, is one of the easiest methods that depends on the skill and self-control of the man. The withdrawal method requires the man to pull out from his partner just before he ejaculates during intercourse. Doing this is not all that easy since most men can’t tell when exactly they are going to ejaculate until it’s too late. If you want to be a pro at this, practice kegel exercises so that you increase control over your penile muscles.
There is a fair amount of risk involved in this process obviously. Besides the fact that you may not be able to pull out in time, there is a trace amount of sperm contained in the fluid before intercourse which could cause pregnancy.

Condoms

This is the most preferred method of contraception both by men and women. They prevent pregnancy and also offer protection from sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). A condom is usually made of latex and is worn by the man before intercourse. Even if he ejaculates before pulling out, the sperms are safely retained within the condom, making sure nothing unplanned happens. This method of contraception costs money but the pricing is very reasonable and is considered to be a very safe way to have sex.

Vasectomy

A vasectomy is a permanent, one time fix for birth control. This is a surgical process that involves cutting, tying or blocking off the vas deferens. This prevents sperms from leaving the scrotum. This is an irreversible process and is usually opted for by men who don’t plan on having any more kids or don’t want to have kids at all. The surgery itself is pretty painless, heals quickly and the man can resume sexual activity soon after. Although this method prevents pregnancy, it does not offer any protection from STDs.
Besides these methods, here are a couple of male contraception techniques that could be an option in the future.

The male contraceptive pill

This is a pill that brings down the sperm count in a man to zero. It contains a synthetic hormone known as desogestrel, which is the main ingredient in the female contraceptive pill, as well as the male hormone testosterone. Together, they combine to reduce the sperm count but at the same time maintain the sex drive in a man. These must be consumed daily in order to be effective.

Vasalgel

This is a surgery that prevents a man from impregnating a woman for up to ten years. The process is irreversible even before the ten year period passes and the man can father children. The procedure is very similar to a vasectomy, except here, the doctor injects a gel that blocks the movement of sperms and prevents them from leaving the scrotum. This gel lasts for ten years. If the man changes his mind sooner, another surgery is required to flush out the gel so that the sperm can resume its movement.
Male contraception is a responsible way to share birth control with a woman. After all, it is not fair to expect her to do everything while you get to have the fun. So choose a method that both you and your partner are comfortable and have a great sex life.

You may also Like:

7 Foods That Make You Happy

Coffee: A Friend or a Foe?