Contraception is commonly related to girls primarily based on the assumption that ladies bear the bodily and social penalties of being pregnant and due to this fact ought to take major accountability for stopping it.
Additionally, nearly all of contraceptive strategies developed and marketed are designed for ladies. This contains contraception drugs, intrauterine units (IUDs), and hormonal implants. However consultants say contraceptives for males exist. They’re efficient and equally essential.
Taiwo Alabi, a urologist at Grandville Medical Centre in Lagos, mentioned male contraceptive instruments are an efficient approach to cut back the chance of unplanned pregnancies.
Mr Alabi additionally recognized that contraceptives permit males to take lively management over their reproductive future.
The UK Nationwide Institute of Well being defines contraceptives as strategies, units, or medicines used to forestall being pregnant by interfering with the traditional technique of ovulation, fertilisation, or implantation.
The World Well being Organisation (WHO) additionally stated that contraceptives are essential to lowering maternal ill-health and the variety of pregnancy-related deaths.
Weeks in the past, PREMIUM TIMES, in a report, detailed the present contraceptive strategies for ladies and the way they operate. On this report, primarily based on an interview with Mr Alabi, a Nigerian urologist and well being skilled, the main focus shifts to the present contraceptive choices for males and the the reason why these strategies must be embraced.
Contraceptives technique
Mr Alabi divided the strategies of contraceptives for males into three. That’s, the withdrawal technique, the barrier technique, and vasectomy.
The barrier technique entails using bodily units to forestall sperm from reaching the egg throughout sexual activity.
According to Mr Alabi, one of many principal methods to create a barrier is using condoms. It’s a sheath sometimes manufactured from latex or polyurethane that’s worn over the penis.
Condoms act as a barrier to dam semen from getting into the companion’s physique, thereby lowering the chance of being pregnant, whereas additionally defending towards sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
Mr Alabi said that condom is probably the most generally used contraceptive by males around the globe. Additionally it is a contraceptive really useful by most well being professionals.
In keeping with a Cambridge research, a number of surveys have proven that in lots of international locations the place knowledge exist, condoms make up over 50 per cent of all contraceptives.
UNAIDS additionally reported that about 52 per cent of males aged 15-49 use condoms with non-regular companions.
Nonetheless, regardless of usually growing tendencies in condom use over the previous twenty years, substantial variations and gaps stay, in keeping with UNAIDS.
Mr Alabi additionally famous {that a} condom is the one contraceptive that forestalls each undesirable pregnancies and sexually transmitted ailments.
He, nevertheless, famous that though condoms are very sensible, points with counterfeiting and sub-standard merchandise at the moment are extremely liable to failure.
“The failure might be expiration, unprofessional practices by distributors, and deliberate sabotage of the barrier by a companion,” he provides.
The withdrawal technique
The withdrawal technique, also referred to as coitus interruptus, entails the person withdrawing his penis from the companion’s vagina earlier than ejaculation happens.
The purpose is to forestall sperm from getting into the vagina and thus keep away from fertilisation.
In keeping with Mr Alabi, it’s the oldest type of contraception, however with a excessive fee of failure.
“It is because even earlier than ejaculation, a fluid referred to as pre-ejaculate might be launched, and it could comprise sperm,” he defined. “In consequence, there’s nonetheless a major danger of being pregnant, even when withdrawal happens earlier than climax.”
He famous that this doesn’t stop an infection or STIs.
Vasectomy
The third type of contraception is vasectomy. It is a surgical type of male contraception that forestalls sperm from getting into the semen throughout ejaculation, thereby avoiding fertilisation.
It’s a secure and simple process that entails a physician numbing the scrotum, then reducing and sealing the tubes, known as vas deferens, that carry sperm from the testicles.
In keeping with Mr Alabi, males who get a vasectomy nonetheless ejaculate, however the semen gained’t comprise sperm, so it may possibly’t trigger being pregnant.
Though Vasectomy is thought to be the best type of contraception for males, it’s the least accepted of all strategies.
He additional famous that it’s the least accepted type of contraception in Nigeria.
Though there are not any out there knowledge on the overall prevalence of vasectomy within the nation, a number of research have proven that there’s low acceptance.
A survey conducted over 16 years confirmed that solely 10 males volunteered for a vasectomy in comparison with 3,585 feminine sterilisations.
That provides a prevalence amongst these presenting for sterilisation of about 0.28 per cent for vasectomy.
One other study in Edo State confirmed that only one.6 per cent agreed to vasectomy unconditionally, and one other 5.2 per cent conditionally with the research group.
“In my years of follow, I’ve solely carried out vasectomies about 5 instances, and I can let you know that I’ll rank as one of many urologists that has carried out it probably the most. Some urologists haven’t carried out a vasectomy all through their profession,” he mentioned.
The urologist additionally famous {that a} vasectomy is just not efficient instantly.
“It takes about three months for the remaining sperm past the world the place his tubes have been blocked to be cleared. Inside this era, one other contraceptive have to be used,” he mentioned.
Mr Alabi additionally famous that the attention about vasectomy in Nigeria could be very low.
Most males, he famous, don’t know concerning the process, and those that do are sometimes not .
Some, in keeping with him, are involved about doing a surgical process, whereas others have a basic concern of hospitals or medical interventions.
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“We’d like extra consciousness. We’d like extra schooling,” he mentioned.
Well being professionals additionally attribute this to widespread misconceptions, concern of everlasting sterility, and cultural or spiritual beliefs that affiliate masculinity with fertility.
Why contraception issues for males
To enhance contraceptive use and household planning, there’s a have to debunk the misperception that contraception is just for girls, in keeping with Mr Alabi.
He said that it offers males higher management over when and in the event that they wish to grow to be fathers.
He recognized that when male companions are concerned in contraception choices, it builds higher communication and supportive relationships.
“Additionally, there are peculiarities in girls that generally make males higher match to undertake a contraceptive technique.
“This relieves and makes the lads extra concerned in household planning,” he added.
He urged that households contemplating adopting any contraceptive technique ought to focus on contraception and attain a conclusion on probably the most most popular alternative.
