Male birth control options are being researched worldwide, but won’t hit the market for at least five years.

A pill, patch, injection or implant soon may be available to men, said John Schieszer in his article, “Male birth control pill soon a reality,” at www.msnbc.com.

Any of these contraceptives works similar to female birth control. Hormones, such as testosterone and progestins, are placed into the male body to stop sperm production, according to Schieszer’s article.

Debra Fetting, a pharmacist and pharmacy supervisor at University Health Service, is unable to predict whether male birth control will be offered at NIU. From the research presented to her, Fetting said it will be several years before male birth control options are available.

“If it’s safe and approved in the United States, and had a large student demand, my thought is that it would be beneficial to offer it,” she said.

Before offering male birth control to students, the pharmacy and therapeutics committee would have to approve it, she said. Cost also would be a major consideration.

Opinions vary on chemical birth control for males.

Kelly Quinn, a marketing major, said women aren’t the only ones responsible for preventing unwanted pregnancy.

“Men are 50 percent responsible,” she said.

Quinn said she feels it would be beneficial for both partners to be on the pill if they are in a committed, monogamous relationship. If Quinn was in a monogamous relationship, she said, she would trust her partner to take a form of birth control to prevent pregnancy.

Men have different thoughts on the topic, as well.

Steve VerCande, 23, father of one, said he would use birth control when and if it becomes available. VerCande said he would prefer either the implant or the shot because he would have a hard time remembering to take a pill every day or change the patch every week.

“I can’t even remember to take my vitamin every day,” VerCande said.

If VerCande were on some form of birth control, he said his wife could stop taking the pill.

“Why buy birth control for both of us if we don’t have to?” VerCande asked. “It’s not necessary.”

Unlike VerCande, Brad Sawicki, a senior communication major, said he wouldn’t use any form of male birth control. In fact, he said, he wouldn’t want his girlfriend or wife to be on any birth control either.

“I don’t believe in chemical contraceptives,” he said.

Many people feel that preventing unwanted pregnancy primarily is a woman’s responsibility, according to Kathy George’s article, “Male birth control studied,” at http://seattlepi.nwsource.com.

Christine Huffman, 48, mother of five, disagrees.

“It takes two to make a baby,” she said. “If two people are going to be partners in a marriage, they have to work together.”

One concern that goes along with the development of male birth control is the use of condoms.

If not in a committed relationship, taking the pill would not be beneficial, Quinn said. Although it prevents pregnancy, it doesn’t protect against sexually transmitted diseases.

Sawicki said when male birth control hits the market, the use of condoms probably would decrease.

“People tend to look at condoms mostly as a form of birth control and not for protection against STDs,” Sawicki said. ”And they forget that pills only prevent pregnancy and don’t protect against STDs.”

The possibility that condom use would decrease also concerns Huffman.

“Young people think they’re immune to diseases,” she said. “They think more about not getting pregnant.”

Research is being conducted in other areas of the world as well as the United States. Researchers in both China and California are working together to conduct clinical trials, according to Schieszer’s article.

Researchers in Seattle are studying a potential implant form of male birth control that would be injected under the skin. According to current studies, men involved in the three male hormonal contraceptive trials haven’t experienced any noticeable side effects.

With a failure rate of about 14 percent, condoms are less effective than other types of female birth control. With male birth control soon to become a reality, men finally could have the opportunity to control their own fertility with near-perfect effectiveness.