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From: rb@cci632.UUCP (Rex Ballard)
Newsgroups: net.women,net.bio
Subject: Re: Birth Control
Message-ID: <267@cci632.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 27-Jul-86 14:07:50 EDT
Article-I.D.: cci632.267
Posted: Sun Jul 27 14:07:50 1986
Date-Received: Mon, 28-Jul-86 03:43:06 EDT
References: <1052@umd5.UUCP> <939@frog.UUCP> <560@batcomputer.TN.CORNELL.EDU> <801@blade.UUCP> <23@iwsam.UUCP> <17764@ucla-cs.ARPA>
Reply-To: rb@ccird1.UUCP (Rex Ballard)
Distribution: net
Organization: CCI, Rochester Development, Rochester, NY
Lines: 36
Xref: watmath net.women:11627 net.bio:633
Summary: Sexism in birth control.

In article <17764@ucla-cs.ARPA> oleg@ucla-cs.UUCP (Oleg "Kill the bastards" Kiselev) writes:
>>isn't it true that a man who had a vasectomy could still father a
>>child via artificial insemination? so that a vasectomy's effect
>>isn't irreversible with respect to function?
>
>Ability to use frosen sperm does not make it reversible! 
>

I just spent some time talking to our doctor about the various options.
When discussing male options, I asked about reversable vasectomy or
artificial insemination.

It turns out that once the vasectomy is performed, the body starts developing
immunities to the sperm which end up in the blood stream.  This is the main
reason birth control efforts are focused on women.

Up to now, we've been using the combination condom/capsule, but are wanting
a little more secure method.  The cautions in the book that came with "the
pill" samples was less than comforting.

My wife doesn't smoke, but she's concerned about the cancer risks anyway.
She also suffers from PMS, which, according to the booklet, means the pill
is contra-indicated.  Our doctor has a policy of not giving IUDs at all.
Primarily because of the various lawsuits involved.

This may sound sexist, but it seems like young men have a stronger desire
for sex than young women.  Appearantly, this changes with age.  The point
is, if young men are that "obsessed" with sex, it seems to make sense that
more efforts should be focused on improving the options available to men.

Is there ANY research into options available for men?  I find it rather
interesting that doctors are happy to experiment with womens bodies, and
subject them to the various risks, but men's reproductive systems are
"off limits".  Is this perhaps because the doctors might be blamed for
"loss of verility", even though this is a natural part of the aging
process?