| November 21st, 2016

Mens’ Hormonal Birth Control Study Killed Due to the Same Side Effects of Women Birth Control

By: journeymagazine

Words By:Jamani Elston

A recent study found that a hormonal shot for men could effectively prevent pregnancy in their women partners. The study was called short due to side effects the male participants received from the shot. Many of the side effects are quite similar to what women who take birth control face, such as depression and acne.

The study, which was published in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, was started in 2008 and ended in 2012. There were 320 participants that received shots that contained two hormones every eight weeks. The study found that the hormonal shot was 96 percent effective in preventing pregnancy.

Although the shot had been proven effective, over 20 men dropped out early due to side effects. The study states that of the 20, six men discontinued only for changes in mood, and 6 men discontinued for the following single reasons: acne, pain or panic at first injection, palpitations, hypertension and erectile dysfunction. Out of the 1,491 adverse events that were reported by the male participants, one included a participant committing suicide.

Senior pre-med biology major, Stafford Dawson, believes the study ended for a good reason and that any side effects should be taken seriously.

“I personally wouldn’t [try the hormonal shot] because I have seen what the shot does to women, from gaining tons of weight to growing all types of facial and chest hair,” Dawson said.

Many people do not agree with ending the study because hormonal birth control methods for women have many of the exact same side effects.

The University of Copenhagen scientists conducted a study with more than 1 million women ranging in age from 15 to 34. Out of the teenage girls in the study, 80 percent were more likely to be prescribed an antidepressant when they were on combined birth control pills. The rate of antidepressant prescriptions increased by 40 percent for those using a progestin only IUD, 60 percent for those using a vaginal ring, and 100 percent for those using a patch.

Aside from depression, there have also been many proven side effects of all birth controls.

FAMU student Laquinta Stephens from Perry, FL stopped taking birth control due to the negative side effects she experienced.

“While on the shot I gained a tremendous amount of weight, I started having migraines, and it made me really lazy.” She continued, “With the pills I experienced migraines, hair loss, bad cramps, and mood swings.”

According to Health.com, the most common birth control symptoms are headache, dizziness, breast tenderness, nausea, breakthrough bleeding, decreased libido, and mood swings.

Destiny Mcintosh, a junior broadcast journalism student from West Palm Beach, FL, was also once on the pill. She said that it caused hair loss, acne, and she also gained 15 pounds.

“I don’t think they should’ve ended the study,” McIntosh stated, “Maybe they should look into coming up with better solutions but to just cancel it is not fair when women have some of the same effects yet doctors still prescribe it to us.”