A male birth control pill has passed the first round of clinical testing, giving hope for less permanent contraception options for men – and potentially leveling the playing field when it comes to pregnancy prevention.

In the U.S., approximately 40 percent of pregnancies are unplanned. This is partly because society dictates that, unfairly, women are primarily responsible for pregnancy prevention and family planning. Historically, contraception options for men have not been optimal:

Abstinence (not feasible)

Condoms (not 100-percent reliable)

The withdrawal method (ineffective)

Vasectomy (potentially permanent and a little scary to many men)

The male birth control pill could offer a more flexible option for men while also reinforcing two important facts: that men and women are both responsible for contraception, and that men could take a more active and satisfying role in their reproductive health