A non-hormonal, reversible and non-toxic male birth control could be a step closer, with scientists successfully targeting a protein that's crucial in making fertile sperm. Knocking this protein out for a period of time would give men control over their protection window, much like oral…
birth control for women doesn’t make a woman permanently sterile like the drug trials for male birth control did for men
That is actually not true. Not downplaying the significance of these effects, but…
In the 60s and 70s a large number of planned parenthood clinics were in low-income and predominantly black neighbourhoods, aimed at reducing the number of black babies.
In the same era birth control (more appropriately termed eugenics) programs forcibly sterilized black and indigenous women. Where it was presented as an option, the consequence for not following through on these doctor’s “recommendations,” were threats to withhold healthcare or public assistance. The statistics through the 60s and 70s were that roughly 1 in 4 indigenous women were non-consenually sterilized.
But also, yeah, the results of this trial are fucked and people are right to be skeptical of this drug.
More info on this here:
https://www.mississippifreepress.org/12782/the-troubling-past-of-forced-sterilization-of-black-women-and-girls-in-mississippi-and-the-south
I had assumed the women weren’t sterilised by the normal contraceptive meds, but it seems they used a large dose of Depo-Provera which is a legit contraceptive injection. Not the usual pills but still.
There are also stories in that article of people having forced hysterectomies.
America’s history of racism is so dark.
Maybe not, but female hormonal birth control can cause liver tumors and blood clots. Can’t have more kids if a blood clot kills you.
The moral of the story should be safer contraceptives for everyone…
Unfortunately for women they weigh the side effects of hormonal birth control against those of a pregnancy. Since pregnancy also increases the chance of blood clots and other things they just say “good enough!” And put it on the market…which is bullshit. Either way we’re at higher risk of serious health issues.
That’s why women are angry. I feel confident saying the majority of women dont want unsafe bc for men. We want more research into safer bc options available for us too.