In the majority of cases of unwanted or unplanned pregnancies, the woman shoulders the blame. There is a high emphasis on female contraceptive, especially in Black communities. In fact, there is a stigma associated with male contraceptive that most men who use them rarely speak up.
“In the Black community, masculinity is defined by one’s ability to produce offspring,” said William Bullard, IT consultant, of Miami, Florida. “Therefore, talking about a medical procedure which prevents one from producing offspring that has a side effect of possible erectile dysfunction would be the main reason I think most people do not talk about vasectomies in the Black community.”
At the moment, only a small percentage of couples around the globe use male contraceptives. Also, it is more popular in some regions than others. In Europe and North America, as high as 30% of couples use male contraceptive. That figure is just 5.7% in Africa.
Scientists have argued that male contraceptive will be more effective in the prevention of unwanted pregnancies than female contraceptive because a man can impregnate hundreds of women a year but a woman can only get pregnant once in nine months.
Lack of awareness, misinformation, and stigma are top of the reasons why Black men are not considering male contraceptive or why they are reluctant to get one. This post will highlight the benefits, types, and myths of male contraceptive.
Factors limiting the use of male contraceptive in Black communities
Globally, only around 25% of couples rely on male contraceptive alone. In Black communities, male contraceptive is not a topic that is frequently talked about. Part of the reason is that in some Black communities, men are seen as naturally promiscuous and it is the duty of the woman to make sure she doesn’t get pregnant. Therefore, it is not surprising that in 2013, only 2.2% of men globally had vasectomies while female sterilization in the same year was 18.9%.
Religious beliefs also limit discussions on male contraceptive. For example, Christians view promiscuity as a sin and male contraceptive a license for men to have multiple sex partners. Safety of the procedure is another reason why Black men are skeptical about adopting the procedures.
However, Bullard said, “The procedures [are] very safe and easy in my opinion”, adding that “getting a tooth pulled or a root canal is more tedious if you ask me in prep and execution”. However, for anyone going the vasectomy route, Bullard said, “it’s best to deposit sperm in a sperm bank even if you have enough kids already”. Other factors limiting the use of male contraceptives include:
Lack of awareness
Some men in Black communities are either not aware that male contraceptive is a thing or are not abreast of the different male contraceptive options available to them. In some cases, it is not their fault because the focus has always been on female contraception. A 2021 publication reported that Black men generally report less knowledge and awareness of contraceptive methods.
Misinformation
In cases where male contraceptive is discussed, the focus is often on how it negatively impacts the man. For example, there is a popular misconception that vasectomy changes the morphology of the penis, causes painful sex, leads to weight gain, or even the concern of public opinion about having their manhood questioned. These ideas discourage Black men from getting vasectomies.
Medical mistrust
Years of racism and mistrust have made it harder for Black men to trust the medical system which they believe is skewed against them. Some Black men believe they will be used as guinea pigs when they present themselves to white medical staff.
Stigma
Vasectomy is associated with de-masculinization in certain local beliefs. It is sometimes used interchangeably as castration—which is not true. In 2018, the BBC interviewed a Kenyan man who had a vasectomy but refused to be identified because men who get vasectomies are not considered real men.
Types of male contraceptives and their benefits
The challenge with developing male contraception is usually due to the large number of sperm cells men produce in a day. Some of the contraceptive methods require continuous treatment, are irreversible, or take a long time to reverse. Nevertheless, here are the different male contraceptives and their benefits and shortfalls.
- Condom: is the most popular male contraceptive used around the globe with as high as 51% use cases among American high school students. Condoms are noninvasive and worn over the penis. However, it has a high fail rate of around 13%, primarily due to the lack of knowledge about proper use.
- Vasectomy: Around 500,000 men get vasectomies annually in the United States. The procedure takes less than 30 minutes and has a 99% success rate. Unlike previously thought, almost all vasectomies are reversible through a surgical process called vasectomy reversal. The only downside is that the operation may cause pain for a few days.
- Hormonal Contraception: The use of hormonal injections for male contraception dates back to the 1970s. Hormonal injections are given over a specified duration. In some men, it may take up to six months to achieve sterility. This long treatment time may be difficult for some people to stick to. However, when perfectly used, it can be 99% effective.
Other less common male contraceptive options include Gendarussa (a traditional medicine used in Indonesia to weaken sperm enzymes), a non-hormonal drug called Epididymal Protease Inhibitor that immobilizes sperm, and an intravasal device that is placed inside the vas deferens to filter out sperm. Speak with your physician to know the method that is best for you.
Preparing for vasectomy
Bullard who has had vasectomy gave tips on how Black men can prepare physically and psychologically when panning a vasectomy. In terms of physical preparation, he suggested removing the hair from the scrotum. “You’ll need ice packs for the recovery process,” Bullard said. “I would recommend some nice underwear and tights. That way you can put the ice between the underwear and the tights hold it in place”.
“Psychologically to prepare for the procedure depends on your outlook. You can have fun with your partner with the sperm deposited. [For] a single like me, have fun with your partner for the preparation. Post procedure, the main concern would be the possibility of swelling [or] erectile dysfunction. I would recommend exercise as you see fit and also double-check you are functioning correctly [after a few weeks].”
Encouraging Black men to get vasectomy will not be an easy feat. However, Bullard believes “the best way to encourage someone to get a vasectomy is to tell them how much easier it is for them compared to their partner having a surgical procedure”.
“The procedure takes no more than 30 minutes and the recovery, depending on the person, is within 2 to 6 weeks. Personally, I was up and walking the next day and by the second day of recovery I was able to walk multiple miles without much discomfort.”
For more reading
https://tau.amegroups.org/article/view/19046/html
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0010782421001840
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-44632151
https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/third-u-s-men-use-condoms-not-every-time-n791426
https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/vasectomy-reversal/about/pac-20384537
https://wordinblack.com/2022/12/why-more-black-men-are-getting-vasectomies/
