COLUMN: Guys, get involved in birth control
Anti-abortion groups continue to argue the existence of a human soul and the spiritual value it holds. Those who disagree fight bitterly to ensure these beliefs are not forced onto others.
While this debate has inflamed passions for decades, recent medical advances in contraceptive options may make preventing abortions easier, and create a common ground for both sides.
Enter the Parsemus Foundation, an American non-governmental foundation, which is testing a non-hormonal, temporary male contraceptive option called Vasalgel. The procedure is similar to a vasectomy, except instead of cutting the vas deferens, the tube sperm flows through, a nontoxic gel is injected, blocking sperm from leaving the body.
The foundation’s website states the gel is expected to be as effective as a regular vasectomy. Its effects are expected to last for years, though researchers don't know how many, and can be flushed out at any time with a second injection. The procedure is currently in a second animal clinical trial, and the foundation projects the product to be available on the market around 2017.
Vasalgel is an attractive option for birth control since it bypasses the use of hormones that most feminine options contain. These hormones can produce significant side effects, damaging a woman’s psychological and physical well-being.
By far the most potent element of this procedure is how it addresses both the need for prevention of unwanted pregnancies and concerns with contraceptives.
The potential to empower men to actively participate in preventative birth measures could be a significant step toward more sexual responsibility.
Additionally, given the nature of their contention with traditional contraception, many anti-abortion supporters would embrace a contraceptive preventing actual conception, occurring when sperm fertilizes the egg.
That isn’t to say the solution is perfect. A pre-conception solution might not be for everyone. Some religious denominations, such as the Roman Catholic Church, denounce preventative measures as sin.
However, the United States is awash with different ideologies and personal practices. As a democratic society, we should strive to find the most inclusive solution to our social woes. A procedure allowing men to participate more actively in prevention, offering a preventative measure that works before conception and a lack of evidence of any adverse side effects make Vasalgel an elegant solution to a major issue.
Here’s the bottom line: Vasalgel would be the first non-permanent option for men apart from condoms.
While the procedure won’t prevent all abortions from happening, it could certainly lead to a decrease in unwanted pregnancies, leading to an eventual decrease in abortions.
That’s a significant victory for both sides of this debate.
To learn more about Vasalgel, the Parsemus Foundation and other forms of contraceptive options, visit parsemusfoundation.org.
