Why isn't there a male birth control pill?

Published: March 20, 2013 Comment on this article

For Gawker’s scientific weekly feature “Hey Science,” a reader posed a question about why there isn’t a male birth control pill.

Here’s what experts had to say:

photo - In this undated handout photo provided by Warner Chilcott, Femcon Fe, the first chewable birth-control method, is shown. Femcon Fe, containing the same hormones as standard oral contraceptives, offers a new option for women who don't like swallowing pills or are on the go and want to take their birth control with them, according to Carl Reichel, president of drugmaker Warner Chilcott. The company, which makes prescription dermatology and women's health products, officially launched the product Thursday, Dec. 7, 2006. (AP Photo/Warner Chilcott) ORG XMIT: NYBZ225

In this undated handout photo provided by Warner Chilcott, Femcon Fe, the first chewable birth-control method, is shown. Femcon Fe, containing the same hormones as standard oral contraceptives, offers a new option for women who don't like swallowing pills or are on the go and want to take their birth control with them, according to Carl Reichel, president of drugmaker Warner Chilcott. The company, which makes prescription dermatology and women's health products, officially launched the product Thursday, Dec. 7, 2006. (AP Photo/Warner Chilcott) ORG XMIT: NYBZ225

John Amory, professor of medicine at the University of Washington

- Men make 1,000 sperm every second from puberty to death whereas women make one egg a month. Suppressing ovulation has proven easier than suppressing sperm production.

- Women have a period during their reproductive life when they are not fertile or pregnant. The female pill mimics pregnancy by administered progesterone to women, thereby preventing ovulation. Men don’t have an analogous period of temporary infertility.

…

Read the rest of this post on gawker.com