Ross: And finally — it’s the man’s turn
Nov 30, 2018, 7:32 AM | Updated: 8:59 am
Today, male birth control still relies on brute force. You snip it or you bag it.
Which is why researchers at the University of Washington are eager to test the latest gel for men: a new male birth control gel. And it’s not applied where you would think.
“It’s going to be applied to the skin of the upper arms and shoulders … you rub it in daily,” Dr. Tara Narula with CBS.
RELATED: UW Medicine testing male contraceptive
The gel suppresses natural testosterone production – which means no more sperm – and at the same time, delivers replacement testosterone through the skin so you still keep all your man feelings.
But, this is not an in-the-moment thing. You need to apply it daily for about two months. So if you started now, you’d have to wait until at least March to use your Tinder profile.
When my grown daughter heard about this male birth control test, her first reaction was “OhMyGod” — with no spaces.
But Dr. Narula says this is not about convenience.
“Researchers are saying ‘Look, it’s time for gender equity right now, we need more shared responsibility in family planning,'” she said.
And I get that, but let’s face it — true gender equity can only happen when researchers invent a gel that allows men to get pregnant. So that the woman can look her man in the eye and say, “OK, honey, we agreed, a baby it is … and it’s your turn this time.” At which point she would hand him the gel and the pre-natal vitamins and go off to work.
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