A new trial for male birth control is underway, but men won't be popping a pill once a day. Instead, men have to massage a gel into their shoulders after they shower. Some are extremely excited by the prospect of a new and easy form of contraception -- one that might take some of the pressure off women to take the Pill. Others are outraged at the fact that a birth-control gel is being created for men and not women. Is this male privilege in gel-form?

PERSPECTIVES

A worldwide trial for a new form of male birth control kicked off in late 2018. Similar to the birth control pill for women, this method does involve a daily routine: after men shower, they will rub birth control gel into their shoulders. At least 420 couples around the world will participate in the trial. Business Insider's Hilary Brueck reports:

Male birth control is moving closer to the U.S. in the form of hormone skin gel pic.twitter.com/ZTTIc2PRqh — TicToc by Bloomberg (@tictoc) November 29, 2018

According to Brueck, there are a number of biological and physical reasons why commercial male birth control has not come to fruition yet.

This study could be revolutionary. The gel reportedly has fewer side effects than the Pill does for women, and given that condoms are only 85 percent effective, this gel could successfully equalize the responsibility of contraception between male and female partners.

But many women feel that a male birth-control gel is the epitome of male privilege. The Pill causes side effects like increased risk for depression, weight gain, and suppressed libido, yet women rely on it in order to live their sexual lives freely. PopBuzz's Jazmin Duribe sums up this group's feelings, saying:

Female options for birth control are expensive, risky and taxing on the body, yet this trial provides men with contraception that is straightforward. Soon, men will be asking for shoulder massages to rub their birth control in!

Well... I’ve had no shortage of painfully inserted IUDs dislodge and stab my uterus, but yes, let’s invent a birth control GEL for men. 🙄 #maleprivilege



New Non-Invasive Male Birth Control Being Tested & Women Everywhere Say ‘WTF’? https://t.co/5QW2HlkHPT — Dr. Kehaulani Watson (@hehawaiiau) December 2, 2018

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